Title: Donald Otis Williams v. State of Florida
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC18-2081
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: August 29, 2019

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019 
 
CASE NO.: SC18-2081 
Lower Tribunal No(s).: 
352011CF000105AXXXXX 
 
DONALD OTIS WILLIAMS 
vs. 
STATE OF FLORIDA 
 
Petitioner(s) 
 
Respondent(s) 
 
 
Petitioner has submitted what is styled an all writs petition, seeking to 
compel the trial court to include him in certain proceedings and to rule on pending 
motions, and related pleadings.  This case is hereby transferred to the Fifth District 
Court of Appeal for consideration as a mandamus proceeding.  The transferee court 
shall treat the petition and related pleadings as if it had been originally filed there 
on the date it was filed in this Court.  Any determination concerning the timeliness 
of this appellate proceeding shall be made by the transferee court.  Any 
determination concerning whether a filing fee shall be applicable to this case shall 
be made by the transferee court.  Any and all pending motions in this case are 
hereby deferred to the transferee court.  Any future pleadings filed regarding this 
case should be filed in the above-mentioned district court at 300 South Beach 
Street, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. 
CANADY, C.J., and POLSTON, LAWSON, LAGOA, LUCK, and MUÑIZ, JJ., 
concur. 
LABARGA, J., concurs in result with an opinion. 
CASE NO.: SC18-2081 
Page Two 
 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
LABARGA, J., concurring in result. 
 
Based upon the unique facts and circumstances presented by this case, I 
concur with the decision of the majority to transfer this matter to the Fifth District 
Court of Appeal.  However, I wish to emphasize that my decision in this specific 
case should not be interpreted as a change in my view with respect to this Court’s 
longstanding precedent governing our jurisdiction over capital cases.  See State v. 
Fourth Dist. Court of Appeal, 697 So. 2d 70, 71 (Fla. 1997) (“[W]e now hold that 
in addition to our appellate jurisdiction over sentences of death, we have exclusive 
jurisdiction to review all types of collateral proceedings in death penalty cases.  
This includes cases in which this Court has vacated a death sentence and 
remanded for further penalty proceedings.” (emphasis supplied)). 
A True Copy 
Test: 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: SC18-2081 
Page Three 
 
 
cd 
Served: 
 
DOUGLAS T. SQUIRE 
DONALD OTIS WILLIAMS 
HON. MARK JAY HILL 
HON. GARY J. COONEY, CLERK 
HON. JOANNE P. SIMMONS, CLERK 
HUGH DEAN BASS, JR.