Case Title: In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.142 (a)

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC20-1653

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2021-01-14T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC20-1653 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE OF APPELLATE 
PROCEDURE 9.142(a). 
 
January 14, 2021 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Court, on its own motion,1 amends Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 
9.142(a) (Procedure in Death Penalty Appeals) to remove reference to comparative 
proportionality review.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
In Lawrence v. State, 45 Fla. L. Weekly S277 (Fla. Oct. 29, 2020), this 
Court held that the Florida Constitution’s conformity clause “forbids this Court 
from analyzing death sentences for comparative proportionality in the absence of a 
statute establishing that review.”  Id. at S277.  In so holding, we receded from 
Yacob v. State, 136 So. 3d 539 (Fla. 2014), and “eliminate[d] comparative 
 
 
1.  See Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.140(d). 
 
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proportionality review from the scope of our appellate review set forth in rule 
9.142(a)(5).”  45 Fla. L. Weekly at S279.   
Accordingly, consistent with our decision in Lawrence, rule 9.142(a) is 
amended as reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  Deletions are indicated by 
struck-through type.  The amendment shall become effective immediately upon the 
release of this opinion. 
It is so ordered. 
CANADY, C.J., and POLSTON, LAWSON, MUÑIZ, COURIEL, and 
GROSSHANS, JJ., concur. 
LABARGA, J., dissents with an opinion. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT. 
 
LABARGA, J., dissenting. 
 
For the reasons expressed in my dissent in Lawrence v. State, 45 Fla. L. 
Weekly S277 (Fla. Oct. 29, 2020), I dissent to the removal of proportionality 
review from the rule governing our procedure in death penalty appeals. 
Original Proceeding – Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
RULE 9.142 
PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW IN DEATH PENALTY 
CASES 
 
(a) 
Procedure in Death Penalty Appeals. 
 
(1) – (4) 
[No Change] 
(5) 
Scope of Review. On direct appeal in death penalty cases, 
whether or not insufficiency of the evidence or proportionality is an issue 
presented for review, the court shall review these issues and, if necessary, remand 
for the appropriate relief.  
 
(b) – (d) 
[No Change]