Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Michael Irvin SMITH, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
The defendant appeals a final order summarily denying his postconviction motion under rule 3.850 of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure. Three grounds were asserted in the motion: (1) the defendant's convictions for counts one and two violate double jeopardy because the two counts are identical, (2) the trial court incorrectly instructed the jury on a point of law, and (3) the trial court failed to provide information requested by the jury. The trial court determined that all of these claims were procedurally barred because each of them could have been presented on direct appeal.
We must reverse the trial court's disposition of the first claim, because a violation of the prohibition against double jeopardy is a fundamental error, see State v. Johnson, 483 So.2d 420 (Fla.1986), which can be presented for the first time in a postconviction motion. See Willie v. State, 600 So.2d 479 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). Counts one and two of the information appear to be identical, and no portion of the record is attached to the trial court's order to show that they are based on different incidents. Consequently, as to the defendant's first claim we reverse for an evidentiary hearing or the attachment of records conclusively showing that the defendant is not entitled to relief. We find no error as to the summary denial of the defendant's second and third claims.
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
PER CURIAM.
BARFIELD, C.J., MINER and PADOVANO, JJ., CONCUR.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Docket No: No. 99-864.
Decided: August 20, 1999
Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida,First District.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)