Case Name: Rodney McGILL, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2013-06-19
Citations: 117 So. 3d 804
Docket Number: No. 4D13-1002
Parties: Rodney McGILL, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
Judges: STEVENSON, GROSS and LEVINE, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 117
Pages: 804–805

Head Matter:
Rodney McGILL, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
No. 4D13-1002.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
June 19, 2013.
Rodney McGill, Monticello, pro se.
No appearance required for respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Petitioner Rodney McGill seeks a writ of habeas corpus claiming that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise on direct appeal his pro se objection to the giving of Fla. Std. Jury Instr. (Crim.) 14.1 during his trial for first degree grand theft. See § 812.014(2)(a), Fla. Stat. (2007). Petitioner represented himself at trial, but was represented by the Public Defender on direct appeal; counsel for petitioner raised two issues, neither involving jury instructions, and this court affirmed per curiam. See McGill v. State, 98 So.3d 581 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012).
We deny the writ because petitioner's complaint involves the failure to challenge a standard jury instruction not disapproved by the Florida Supreme Court. Under these circumstances, the failure of counsel to object at trial and/or pursue the matter on direct appeal does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. See Lukehart v. State, 70 So.3d 503, 520-521 (Fla.2011); Rodriguez v. State, 919 So.2d 1252, 1272 (Fla.2005).
Petition for writ of habeas corpus denied,.
STEVENSON, GROSS and LEVINE, JJ., concur.