Case Title: State v. Hope

Citation: 529 So. 2d 275

Docket Number: 70646

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 1988-06-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
529 So. 2d 275 (1988)
STATE of Florida, Petitioner,
v.
Richard P. HOPE, Respondent.
No. 70646.

Supreme Court of Florida.
June 9, 1988.
Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen. and Katherine V. Blanco, Asst. Atty. Gen., Tampa, for petitioner.
Joel Hirschhorn and Andrew Cotzin of Joel Hirschhorn, P.A., Miami, for respondent.
PER CURIAM.
We have for review Hope v. State, 508 So. 2d 425, 427 (Fla. 2d DCA 1987), in which the district court certified the following question as being of great public importance:
We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const. We answer the certified question in the negative and approve the district court's decision.
Hope bribed Arden Merckle, a sitting chief circuit court judge, to give Hope's nephew a reduced sentence in a criminal case. A jury convicted Hope of bribery (subsection 838.015(1), Florida Statutes (1981)) and of giving, offering, or promising unlawful compensation (subsection 838.016(2), Florida Statutes (1981)). In sentencing Hope the trial court departed from the recommended sentence of any nonstate prison sanction and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. The court gave four reasons for departure, which, on appeal, *276 the district court found inadequate. That court remanded for resentencing within the guidelines, but also certified the question set out above.
This case is closely related to Merckle v. State, 529 So. 2d 269 (Fla. 1988), wherein we approved the district court's affirmance of Merckle's departure sentence. We found the departure warranted because of Merckle's status as a judge, an officer who, because of his unique position, should expect to be treated more harshly than other public servants when he abuses his office. The same concerns, however, do not necessarily attach to giving a bribe to a judge. As the district court pointed out,
508 So. 2d  at 427.
We agree with the district court and hold that giving a bribe to a judge is not a valid reason for departure, in contrast to a judge's accepting a bribe. Merckle. Therefore, we answer the certified question in the negative and approve the district court's decision.
It is so ordered.
McDONALD, C.J., and OVERTON, EHRLICH and SHAW, JJ., and LARRY G. SMITH, Associate Justice, concur.
BARKETT and KOGAN, JJ., concur in result only.