Case ID: so2d_786/html/1195-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "GREEN, Acting Chief Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Stephani Heather TANNER, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
    Nos. 2D00-3666, 2D00-3961.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
    May 25, 2001.
    
      Bruce Rogow and Beverly A. Pohl of Bruce S. Rogow, P.A. Fort Lauderdale, for Appellant.
    Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Michele Taylor, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appel-lee.
   GREEN, Acting Chief Judge.

Stephani Heather Tanner appeals the trial court’s order denying her motion for relief pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 and her motion to disqualify the trial judge which was filed prior to being resentenced pursuant to Heggs v. State, 759 So.2d 620 (Fla.2000). We affirm the order denying appellant’s motion for postconviction relief, but reverse the order denying disqualification, as the motion was facially sufficient.

Defendant’s motions were based on ex parte discussions the trial judge had with trial defense counsel and a prosecutor which exchanges did not impair the trial, but did create a concern by the defendant that her sentence would be affected. While the sentence imposed on the defendant was legal, the trial judge should have recused himself. We therefore reverse defendant’s sentence and remand for resen-tencing before a different judge.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded for resentencing.

CASANUEVA and STRINGER, JJ., Concur.