Case Title: Bowles v. State

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC17-1754

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2018-01-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC17-1754 
____________ 
 
GARY RAY BOWLES,  
Appellant, 
 
vs. 
 
STATE OF FLORIDA,  
Appellee. 
 
[January 29, 2018] 
 
 
 
PER CURIAM. 
We have for review Gary Ray Bowles’ appeal of the circuit court’s order 
denying Bowles’ motion filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 
3.851.  This Court has jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla. Const.   
Bowles’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 (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 
2161 (2017).  After this Court decided Hitchcock v. State, 226 So. 3d 216 (Fla. 
 
 
- 2 - 
2017), cert. denied, 138 S. Ct. 513 (2017), we ordered Bowles to show cause why 
Hitchcock should not be dispositive in this case.  
After reviewing Bowles’ response to the order to show cause, as well as the 
State’s arguments in reply, we conclude that Bowles is not entitled to relief.  
Bowles was sentenced to death following a jury’s unanimous recommendation for 
death.  Bowles v. State, 804 So. 2d 1173, 1175 (Fla. 2001).  Bowles’s sentence of 
death became final on June 17, 2002.  Bowles v. Florida, 536 U.S. 930 (2002).  
Thus, Hurst does not apply retroactively to Bowles’ sentence of death.  See 
Hitchcock, 226 So. 3d at 217.  Accordingly, we affirm the denial of Bowles’ 
motion. 
The Court having carefully considered all arguments raised by Bowles, we 
caution that any rehearing motion containing reargument will be stricken.  It is so 
ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and QUINCE, POLSTON, and LAWSON, JJ., concur. 
PARIENTE, J., concurs in result with an opinion. 
LEWIS and CANADY, JJ., concur in result. 
PARIENTE, J., concurring in result. 
I concur in result because I recognize that this Court’s opinion in Hitchcock 
v. State, 226 So. 3d 216 (Fla. 2017), cert. denied, 138 S. Ct. 513 (2017), is now 
final.  However, I continue to adhere to the views expressed in my dissenting 
opinion in Hitchcock. 
 
 
- 3 - 
An Appeal from the Circuit Court in and for Duval County,  
Bruce R. Anderson, Jr., Judge - Case No. 161994CF012188AXXXMA 
 
Francis Jerome Shea, Jacksonville, Florida,  
 
 
for Appellant 
 
Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, and Jennifer A. Donahue, Assistant Attorney 
General, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Appellee