SANTIAGO v. STATE (2026)

Claiming manifest injustice, Petitioner Benito Santiago seeks a writ of habeas corpus attacking his 2012 conviction for two counts of first degree murder. See Baker v. State, 878 So. 2d 1236, 1246 (Fla. 2004) (Anstead, C.J, specially concurring) (“That writ is enshrined in our Constitution to be used as a means to correct manifest injustices and its availability for use when all other remedies have been exhausted has served our society well over many centuries. This Court will, of course, remain alert to claims of manifest injustice, as will all Florida courts.”); Lightner v. State, 306 So. 3d 1019, 1021 (Fla. 3d DCA 2020) (“Under Florida law, appellate courts have the authority to correct a manifest injustice by way of habeas corpus.”). “Nevertheless, this exception only applies to a narrow category of cases.” Leach v. State, 406 So. 3d 272 (Fla. 3d DCA 2025). Yet the “mere incantation of the words ‘manifest injustice’ does not make it so.” Beiro v. State, 289 So. 3d 511, 511 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019). Finding this case does not fall within this narrow exception and no manifest injustice occurred, we deny the petition.

Petition denied.

PER CURIAM.