Title: Werdell v. Crews
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC12-1640, SC12-1528
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: July 11, 2013

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC12-1528 
____________ 
 
EDWARD K. WERDELL,  
Petitioner, 
 
vs. 
 
MICHAEL D. CREWS, etc.,  
Respondent. 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC12-1640 
____________ 
 
EDWARD K. WERDELL,  
Petitioner, 
 
vs. 
 
MICHAEL D. CREWS, etc.,  
Respondent. 
 
[July 11, 2013] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
Petitioner Edward K. Werdell, an inmate in state custody, filed petitions for 
writ of habeas corpus in the above-styled cases.1
                                         
 
1.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 3(b)(9), Fla. Const. 
  In 2003, Werdell was convicted 
 
- 2 - 
of committing offenses in Pinellas County and was sentenced to terms of 
imprisonment.  Over the years, Werdell has filed numerous nonmeritorious 
pleadings and requests for relief with the Second District Court of Appeal, and in 
2009, the district court entered an order barring him from any future pro se filings 
pertaining to his nine criminal cases.  See Werdell v. State, 16 So. 3d 875, 876 
(Fla. 2d DCA 2009).  
 
Similarly, since Werdell’s convictions and sentences became final he has 
initiated forty-two proceedings pertaining to his criminal convictions in this 
Court.2
                                         
      2.  Werdell’s filing history in this Court is as follows:  Werdell v. State, 103 
So. 3d 144 (Fla. 2012) (mandamus petition denied) (No. SC12-708); Werdell v. 
Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 103 So. 3d 144 (Fla. 2012) (mandamus petition denied) 
(No. SC12-706); Werdell v. Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 103 So. 3d 144 (Fla. 2012) 
(mandamus petition denied) (No. SC12-690); Werdell v. State, 74 So. 3d 1085 
(Fla. 2011) (mandamus petition denied) (No. SC11-1242); Werdell v. State, 77 
So. 3d 648 (Fla. 2011) (review dismissed) (No. SC11-2252); Werdell v. Buss, 
64 So. 3d 680 (Fla. 2011) (habeas corpus petition denied) (No. SC11-372);  
Werdell v. State, 30 So. 3d 494 (Fla. 2010) (review denied) (No. SC09-1532); 
Werdell v. State, 1 So. 3d 174 (Fla. 2009) (mandamus petition denied) (No. 
SC08-1803); Werdell v. State, 2 So. 3d 983 (Fla. 2008) (review denied) (No. 
SC08-2092); Werdell v. State, 994 So. 2d 1106 (Fla. 2008) (review dismissed) 
(No. SC08-1997); Werdell v. State, 994 So. 2d 1106 (Fla. 2008) (mandamus 
petition denied) (No. SC08-1556); Werdell v. State, 994 So. 2d 307 (Fla. 2008) 
(review dismissed) (No. SC08-1852); Werdell v. State, 996 So. 2d 215 (Fla. 
2008) (review dismissed) (No. SC08-1430); Werdell v. State, 988 So. 2d 1094 
(Fla. 2008) (review dismissed) (No. SC08-1395); Werdell v. State, 988 So. 2d 
1094 (Fla. 2008) (review dismissed) (No. SC08-1394); Werdell v. State, 988 
So. 2d 1094 (Fla. 2008) (review dismissed) (No. SC08-1393); Werdell v. State, 
988 So. 2d 1094 (Fla. 2008) (review dismissed) (No. SC08-1388); Werdell v. 
State, 992 So. 2d 821 (Fla. 2008) (review denied) (No. SC07-1489); Werdell v. 
  In none of Werdell’s cases that have been before this Court has any relief 
 
- 3 - 
been afforded to him.  His petitions in the instant cases were denied as 
procedurally barred on October 29, 2012, and he was ordered to show cause why 
he should not be barred from filing in this Court any future pro se pleadings, 
motions, or other requests for relief pertaining to his criminal convictions.   He was 
also ordered to show cause why the Court should not determine that the petitions 
filed in these cases are frivolous pleadings filed by a state prisoner, under section 
                                                                                                                                   
State, 985 So. 2d 1093 (Fla. 2008) (all writs petition dismissed ) (No. SC08-
1086); Werdell v. State, 983 So. 2d 1156 (Fla. 2008) (review dismissed) (No. 
SC08-787); Werdell v. State, 983 So. 2d 1155 (Fla. 2008) (review dismissed) 
(No. SC08-761); Werdell v. State, 985 So. 3d 1093 (Fla. 2008) (mandamus 
petition denied) (No. SC07-2128); Werdell v. State, 965 So. 2d 123 (Fla. 2007) 
(review dismissed); Werdell v. State, 961 So. 2d 934 (Fla. 2007) (review 
dismissed) (No. SC07-367); Werdell v. State, No. SC07-946 (Fla. May 30, 
2007) (notice of appeal transferred); Werdell v. State, 958 So. 2d 922 (Fla. 
2007) (review dismissed); Werdell v. State, No. SC07-223 (Fla. Apr. 2, 2007) 
(mandamus petition transferred); Werdell v. State, 952 So. 2d 1193 (Fla. 2007) 
(review dismissed) (No. SC07-335); Werdell v. State, 952 So. 2d 1193 (Fla. 
2007) (review denied) (No. SC06-1544); Werdell v. State, 950 So. 2d 415 (Fla. 
2007) (review dismissed) (No. SC06-2412); Werdell v. State, 948 So. 2d 415 
(Fla. 2007) (review dismissed) (No. SC06-2518); Werdell v. State, 946 So. 2d 
1072 (Fla. 2006) (review denied) (No. SC06-1549); Werdell v. State, 944 So. 
2d 989 (Fla. 2006) (review dismissed) (No. SC06-2215); Werdell v. State, 944 
So. 2d 989 (Fla. 2006) (review dismissed) (No. SC06-2216); Werdell v. State, 
943 So. 2d 414 (Fla. 2006) (mandamus petition denied) (No. SC06-1759); 
Werdell v. State, 937 So. 2d 123 (Fla. 2006) (review dismissed) (No. SC06-
1406); Werdell v. State, 923 So. 2d 1165 (Fla. 2005) (mandamus petition 
denied) (No. SC05-380); Werdell v. State, 912 So. 2d 1219 (Fla. 2005) (review 
denied) (No. SC05-561); Werdell v. Crosby, 912 So. 2d 1219 (Fla. 2005) 
(review denied) (No. SC05-592); Werdell v. State, 912 So. 2d 1219 (Fla. 2005) 
(review dismissed) (No. SC05-1609). 
 
 
- 4 - 
944.279, Florida Statutes (2012) (stating a prisoner who is found by a court to have 
brought a frivolous claim or proceeding is subject to disciplinary procedures).  
Werdell did not file a response to the order to show cause in either case.   
Accordingly, we now exercise the inherent power of this Court to protect 
itself from abuse of the judicial process and bar Werdell from any future pro se 
filings related to his criminal convictions.  We further conclude that Werdell’s 
petitions in these cases are frivolous proceedings initiated by a prisoner, under 
section 944.279, Florida Statutes (2012).  The Clerk of this Court is hereby 
instructed to reject any future pleadings, petitions, motions, documents, or other 
filings submitted by Edward K. Werdell pertaining to Pinellas County circuit court 
case numbers 02–04399–CF, 02–07159–CF, 03–02914–CF, 03–09410–CF, 03–
10735–CF, 03–12407–CF, 03–13875–CF, 03–18719–CF, and 03–18738–CF, 
unless such filings are signed by a member in good standing of The Florida Bar.  
Counsel may file on Werdell’s behalf if counsel determines that the proceeding 
may have merit and can be brought in good faith.3
                                         
 
3.  In recent years, we have imposed comparable sanctions on other litigants 
whose pro se filing practices have exhibited their disregard for abusing the scarce 
judicial resources of this Court.  See, e.g., McCutcheon v. State, 38 Fla. L. Weekly 
S264 (Fla. Apr. 25, 2013); James v. Tucker, 75 So. 3d 231 (Fla. 2011); Johnson v. 
Rundle, 59 So. 3d 1080 (Fla. 2011); Steele v. State, 14 So. 3d 221 (Fla. 2009); 
Pettway v. McNeil, 987 So. 2d 20 (Fla. 2008).  
  Furthermore, since we have 
found the petitions in these cases to be frivolous, we direct the Clerk of this Court, 
 
- 5 - 
pursuant to section 944.279(1), Florida Statutes (2012) to forward a certified copy 
of this opinion to the Department of Corrections’ institution or facility where 
Werdell is incarcerated. 
 
It is so ordered. 
 
POLSTON, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, LABARGA, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur.  
  
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
 
Original Proceeding – Habeas Corpus 
 
Edward Werdell, pro se, Raiford, Florida,  
 
for Petitioner  
 
No appearance for Respondent