Case Title: Trease v. State

Citation: 

Docket Number: 581995

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2018-01-24T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC17-686 
____________ 
 
ROBERT J. TREASE, 
Appellant, 
 
vs. 
 
STATE OF FLORIDA, 
Appellee. 
 
[April 26, 2018] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
We have for review Robert J. Trease’s appeal of the circuit court’s order 
denying Trease’s motion filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 
3.851.  This Court has jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla. Const.  We withdraw 
the opinion issued on January 24, 2018, and substitute this opinion in its place.   
Trease’s motion sought relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s 
decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and our decision on remand in 
Hurst v. State, 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 2161 (2017).  
This Court stayed Trease’s appeal pending the disposition of Hitchcock v. State, 
226 So. 3d 216 (Fla.), cert. denied, 138 S. Ct. 513 (2017).  After this Court decided 
 
 
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Hitchcock, Trease responded to this Court’s order to show cause arguing why 
Hitchcock should not be dispositive in this case.  Then, after this Court decided 
State v. Silvia, 235 So. 3d 349 (Fla. 2018), Trease responded to this Court’s order 
to show cause why Silvia should not be dispositive in this case.   
After reviewing Trease’s responses to the orders to show cause, as well as 
the State’s arguments in reply, we conclude that Trease’s valid waiver of 
postconviction proceedings and counsel in 2008 precludes him from claiming a 
right to relief under Hurst.  See Silvia, 235 So. 3d at 351; Trease v. State, 41 So. 3d 
119 (Fla. 2010).  Moreover, Trease’s sentence of death became final in 2001.  
Trease v. State, 768 So. 2d 1050, 1053 (Fla. 2000).  Thus, even if Trease’s 
postconviction waiver did not preclude him from raising a Hurst claim, Hurst 
would not apply retroactively to Trease’s sentence of death.  See Hitchcock, 226 
So. 3d at 217.  Accordingly, we affirm the denial of relief. 
It is so ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, QUINCE, POLSTON, and LAWSON, JJ., 
concur. 
LEWIS, J., dissents. 
CANADY, J., recused. 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
An Appeal from the Circuit Court in and for Sarasota County,  
Rochelle Curley, Judge - Case No. 581995CF002207XXXANC 
  
Mark E. Olive, Tallahassee, Florida,  
 
 
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for Appellant  
 
Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida, and Stephen D. Ake, 
Senior Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, Florida,  
 
for Appellee