Title: Melvin B. Thompson v. State of Florida
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC07-489
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: August 28, 2008

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC07-489 
____________ 
 
MELVIN B. THOMPSON,  
Petitioner, 
 
vs. 
 
STATE OF FLORIDA,  
Respondent. 
 
[August 28, 2008] 
 
 
 
ANSTEAD, J. 
 
This case is before the Court for review of the decision of the First District 
Court of Appeal in Thompson v. State (Thompson II), 949 So. 2d 1169 (Fla. 1st 
DCA 2007).  The district court certified that its decision is in direct conflict with 
the decisions of the Fourth District Court of Appeal in Goines v. State, 708 So. 2d 
656 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998), and Second District Court of Appeal in Kleppinger v. 
State, 884 So. 2d 146 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004).  Thompson II, 949 So. 2d at 1179.  We 
have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const.  The question before this Court 
concerns the appropriate standard for determining prejudice with regard to an 
ineffective assistance of counsel claim based on counsel’s failure to disqualify the 
presiding judge.  We hold that the test set forth by the United States Supreme 
Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), is the proper standard for 
evaluating such claims, and we quash the decision of the First District in 
Thompson II. 
 
Below, we review the facts of this case and the conflict in the district courts.  
Next, we discuss the ineffective assistance of counsel standard enunciated by the 
United States Supreme Court in Strickland and addressed in Lockhart v. Fretwell, 
506 U.S. 364 (1993).  Then, we explain our reliance on the Strickland standard in 
evaluating a claim based on counsel’s failure to disqualify the presiding judge.  
Finally, we apply the Strickland standard to the facts of this case. 
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 
 
Melvin Thompson was charged by information with sexual battery with a 
deadly weapon (count I), burglary of a dwelling while armed (count II), aggravated 
assault with a deadly weapon (count III), and false imprisonment (count IV).   
Prior to trial, Thompson’s attorney filed a motion to withdraw as counsel.  In 
support of this motion, the attorney asserted that Thompson had orally threatened 
to physically harm counsel and his family.  At a subsequent hearing on this motion  
Thompson’s counsel stated that Thompson had threatened, if convicted, to kill 
defense counsel, members of counsel’s family, anyone associated with his case, 
 
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and then himself.  Thompson himself denied counsel’s assertions.  The trial judge 
then asked counsel what charges Thompson faced, and the following exchange 
took place: 
MR. GREENBERG [defense counsel]:  In 95-2874 the offenses are 
sexual battery with a deadly weapon, a life felony; burglary of a 
dwelling while armed, a first degree punishable by life; aggravated 
assault with a deadly weapon, a third degree felony; and false 
imprisonment, a third degree felony. 
 
THE COURT:  Okay.  So if convicted in that case, he will be 
spending the rest of his life in prison? 
 
MR. GREENBERG:  Perhaps if that’s what the guidelines call for. 
 
THE COURT:  With a first degree punishable by life, I don’t think we 
need to be worrying about the guidelines.  So his threat is that when 
he gets out of prison, he’s going to make you pay for it and kill you 
and kill me and Mr. Poitinger and Mr. Murrell and the families and 
everybody. 
 
The trial court then denied counsel’s motion to withdraw, explaining: 
If there has been a threat made, the Court concludes that it was a 
threat that could never be carried out.  If he’s convicted, which was 
the condition of his threat, if he’s convicted, he will be in prison for 
the rest of his life and he couldn’t do physical harm to you or Mr. 
Poitinger or Mr. Murrell or me or anyone else. 
 
Subsequently, Thompson’s counsel filed a motion to disqualify the trial judge 
which alleged, in part, that Thompson feared that he would not receive a fair trial 
because the trial judge’s comments at the prior hearing “indicate the court has 
determined the sentence to be imposed in this case prior to trial” and “indicate the 
court will not be inclined to consider any mitigating circumstances if the defendant 
 
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is convicted of these offenses and is predisposed to sentence the defendant to the 
maximum possible sentence.”  The trial court denied this motion as untimely 
because the motion was filed some fourteen days after the earlier hearing, whereas 
the criminal rules provide that a motion for disqualification of a trial judge must be 
made within ten days after the discovery of the facts constituting the grounds for 
disqualification.   
 
Thereafter, Thompson’s case proceeded to trial, and a jury found Thompson 
guilty as charged of sexual battery with a deadly weapon (count I), burglary of a 
dwelling with a specific finding of “while armed” and “with a person assaulted” 
(count II), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (count III), and false 
imprisonment (count IV).  A presentence investigation report was prepared in 
anticipation of sentencing, and it contained a sentencing scoresheet that showed a 
permissible sentencing range of 122.5 months to 204.2 months in state prison.  
However, the trial court sentenced Thompson to life imprisonment on count I and 
five years concurrent imprisonment on counts III and IV.  The court also sentenced 
Thompson to life probation on count II, to run consecutively with his prison 
sentences.   
 
Thompson appealed his convictions and sentences and asserted, among other 
claims, that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to timely file the motion for 
disqualification of the trial judge.  However, the First District affirmed 
 
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Thompson’s convictions and sentences, “without prejudice to Appellant to file a 
timely motion for postconviction relief based upon ineffective assistance of trial 
counsel for failure to timely file Appellant’s motion for disqualification of trial 
judge.”  Thompson v. State (Thompson I), 764 So. 2d 630, 632 (Fla. 1st DCA 
2000).  The First District observed that the motion to disqualify the trial judge was 
legally and facially sufficient to require disqualification and the trial judge would 
have been required to disqualify himself had it been timely filed.  Id. at 631.  
Because the record was silent as to any possible reason for counsel’s tardiness and 
inconclusive as to any resulting prejudice, the First District determined that the 
issue of ineffectiveness could be best addressed in postconviction proceedings.  Id. 
at 631-32.  The district court held that any postconviction proceedings on this issue 
should be conducted before a different trial judge.  Id. at 632. 
 
Thompson then filed an amended motion for postconviction relief which 
alleged that trial counsel was ineffective for not timely filing a legally sufficient 
motion to disqualify the trial and sentencing judge.  After holding an evidentiary 
hearing, the postconviction court denied Thompson’s motion for postconviction 
relief.   
 
When Thompson again appealed to the First District, the district court 
affirmed the denial of postconviction relief based upon Thompson’s ineffective 
assistance of counsel claim.  Thompson II, 949 So. 2d at 1170.  The First District 
 
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noted its disagreement with the decisions of the Second District in Kleppinger and 
the Fourth District in Goines, which the First District characterized as requiring 
“all ineffective assistance of counsel claims to be reviewed to determine whether 
‘the result of the proceeding was fundamentally unfair or unreliable,’ even when a 
defendant cannot show that the result at trial or the sentence imposed would have 
been different.”  Thompson II, 949 So. 2d at 1177.1    
In Goines, the Fourth District also addressed a postconviction claim based 
on defense counsel’s failure to disqualify the presiding judge.  708 So. 2d at 657.  
The court concluded that “in the absence of a reasonable tactical decision not to do 
so, it constitutes ineffective assistance not to seek disqualification on the grounds 
revealed in this case, which plainly show a reasonable fear of judicial bias.”  Id. at 
660.  The district court explained “that the prejudice component of Strickland is 
concerned with whether counsel’s deficient performance ‘renders the result of the 
trial unreliable or the proceeding fundamentally unfair.’ ”  Goines, 708 So. 2d 660 
(quoting Lockhart, 506 U.S. at 372).  The court rejected the State’s argument that 
in order to demonstrate prejudice under Strickland the defendant was required to 
demonstrate that the outcome would have been different if counsel had secured 
                                          
 
1.  In addition to the certified conflict issue, Thompson claims that the 
departure sentences he received are illegal and unconstitutional under Apprendi v. 
New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), and Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 
(2004).  We decline to address this claim as it is beyond the scope of the conflict 
issue.  Cf. Battle v. State, 911 So. 2d 85, 87 n.1 (Fla. 2005).   
 
- 6 -
disqualification and the proceedings were then presided over by another judge.  
Goines, 708 So. 2d at 661.  Similarly, the Second District in Kleppinger rejected an 
outcome-determinative standard for prejudice and held that “[t]he finding of 
prejudice [under Strickland] turns on whether disqualification would have been 
required, not on whether the outcome of a new trial would have been different.”  
Kleppinger, 884 So. 2d at 149 (citing Goines, 708 So. 2d at 660).    
STRICKLAND 
 
As recognized by the United States Supreme Court, the Sixth Amendment 
right to counsel exists in order to protect the fundamental right to a fair trial.  
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 684.  A fair trial is defined as “one in which evidence 
subject to adversarial testing is presented to an impartial tribunal for resolution of 
issues defined in advance of the proceeding.”  Id. at 685.  Because the purpose of 
the right to effective assistance of counsel is to ensure a fair trial, “[t]he benchmark 
for judging any claim of ineffectiveness must be whether counsel’s conduct so 
undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that the trial cannot 
be relied on as having produced a just result.”  Id. at 686.   
In Strickland, the United States Supreme Court established a two-prong 
standard for determining whether counsel provided ineffective assistance 
warranting postconviction relief: 
 
A convicted defendant’s claim that counsel’s assistance was so 
defective as to require reversal of a conviction or death sentence has 
 
- 7 -
two components.  First, the defendant must show that counsel’s 
performance was deficient.  This requires showing that counsel made 
errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the “counsel” 
guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment.  Second, the 
defendant must show that the deficient performance prejudiced the 
defense.  This requires showing that counsel’s errors were so serious 
as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is 
reliable.  Unless a defendant makes both showings, it cannot be said 
that the conviction or death sentence resulted from a breakdown in the 
adversary process that renders the result unreliable. 
 
Id. at 687.  In defining the prejudice prong of the standard, the Court stated that 
“[t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for 
counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been 
different.  A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine 
confidence in the outcome.”  Id. at 694.  The Court emphasized that “the ultimate 
focus of the inquiry must be on the fundamental fairness of the proceeding whose 
result is being challenged.”  Id. at 696.  Importantly, the Court took care to explain 
that the prejudice component was not an outcome-determinative test and there was 
no requirement to show that counsel’s deficiency actually altered the outcome of 
the case.  Id. at 693.  The Court explained that while “[i]t is not enough for the 
defendant to show that the errors had some conceivable effect on the outcome of 
the proceeding,” a defendant did not need to “show that counsel’s deficient 
conduct more likely than not altered the outcome in the case.”  Id.  
In Lockhart, a case relied upon by the Fourth District in Goines, the United 
States Supreme Court decided the issue of whether counsel’s failure to make an 
 
- 8 -
objection in a state capital sentencing proceeding––an objection that would have 
been supported by a decision which was later overruled––constituted “prejudice” 
within the meaning of Strickland.  Lockhart, 506 U.S. at 366.  The Court held that 
it did not constitute prejudice, “[b]ecause the result of the sentencing proceeding . . 
. was rendered neither unreliable nor fundamentally unfair as a result of counsel’s 
failure to make the objection.”  Id.  After quoting from Strickland, the Court 
clarified that “an analysis focusing solely on mere outcome determination, without 
attention to whether the result of the proceeding was fundamentally unfair or 
unreliable, is defective.”  Lockhart, 506 U.S. at 369.  The Court subsequently 
explained that its holding in Lockhart denying relief did not modify or supplant the 
Strickland analysis.  See Glover v. United States, 531 U.S. 198, 203 (2001); see 
also Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 393 (2000) (“Cases such as Nix v. 
Whiteside, 475 U.S. 157 (1986), and Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364 (1993), do 
not justify a departure from a straightforward application of Strickland when the 
ineffectiveness of counsel does deprive the defendant of a substantive or 
procedural right to which the law entitles him.”).    
ADHERENCE TO STRICKLAND 
Just as the United States Supreme Court continues to apply the traditional 
Strickland analysis to claims of actual ineffective assistance of counsel, we, too, 
use Strickland as the standard for evaluating such claims.  See Cottle v. State, 733 
 
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So. 2d 963, 965 (Fla. 1999) (describing Strickland as the primary guide for 
ineffective assistance claims).  As we recently explained in Carratelli v. State, 961 
So. 2d 312 (Fla. 2007), “A defendant’s claim that his counsel offered ineffective 
assistance at trial, for whatever reason, must be analyzed under the standard the 
Supreme Court enunciated in Strickland.”  Carratelli, 961 So. 2d at 320.  In that 
case, we addressed the standard that courts should apply in deciding whether 
counsel’s failure to preserve a challenge to a potential juror constitutes ineffective 
assistance of counsel.  Id. at 315.  We examined and compared the standards for 
demonstrating reversible error on appeal and demonstrating prejudice in the 
postconviction context.  Id. at 317-20.  We noted that while the standard for 
obtaining a reversal upon the erroneous denial of a cause challenge was relatively 
lenient (a defendant need only show that an objectionable juror sat on the jury), the 
standard for prejudice in postconviction claims was more restrictive.  Id. at 320.  
We found that applying the standard used on direct appeal in the postconviction 
context disregarded the fundamental differences between review on appeal and 
review on postconviction.  See id. at 324.  Hence, we concluded that a 
postconviction claim must be evaluated under the more rigorous standard of 
Strickland.  See Carratelli, 961 So. 2d at 324. 
Similarly, we reject Thompson’s claim that a defendant is automatically 
entitled to postconviction relief simply by demonstrating that the denial of a 
 
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motion for disqualification, if one had been properly filed by counsel, would have 
been reversed on appeal.  Under Florida law, the legal sufficiency of a motion to 
disqualify depends on “whether the facts alleged would place a reasonably prudent 
person in fear of not receiving a fair and impartial trial.”  Livingston v. State, 441 
So. 2d 1083, 1087 (Fla. 1983).  The legal sufficiency of a motion is purely a 
question of law.  MacKenzie v. Super Kids Bargain Store, Inc., 565 So. 2d 1332, 
1335 (Fla. 1990).  When a trial court fails to act in accord with the law governing 
motions to disqualify, an appellate court will vacate a trial court judgment that 
flows from the error.  See Fuster-Escalona v. Wisotsky, 781 So. 2d 1063, 1065 
(Fla. 2000).   
In contrast to this relatively low threshold for obtaining relief on appeal, a 
defendant claiming ineffective assistance of trial counsel in postconviction 
proceedings may only obtain relief by showing that counsel’s deficient 
performance actually prejudiced the defense.  See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687.  
Thus, “an error that may justify reversal on direct appeal will not necessarily 
support a collateral attack on a final judgment.”  Witt v. State, 387 So. 2d 922, 925 
(Fla. 1980) (quoting United States v. Addonizio, 442 U.S. 178, 184 & n.11 
(1979)).  As in Carratelli, we hold that the Strickland standards for deficiency and 
prejudice apply to a postconviction claim predicated upon defense counsel’s failure 
to file a timely motion to disqualify a trial judge. 
 
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APPLICATION OF THE STRICKLAND STANDARD  
Having confirmed that the Strickland standard is the appropriate standard to 
analyze a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel based on counsel’s failure to 
timely act to disqualify the trial judge, we now apply the standard to the facts of 
this case.   
First, to establish the deficiency prong of Strickland, a defendant must show 
that counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness 
under prevailing professional norms.  466 U.S. at 687-88.  We find that counsel’s 
failure to timely file the motion to disqualify constituted deficient performance.  
The First District expressly held in its initial opinion that the motion to disqualify 
was facially sufficient and that the judge would have been legally required to 
disqualify himself had the motion been timely filed.  Thompson I, 764 So. 2d at 
631.  Florida law supports the district court’s previous conclusion.  The Florida 
Rules of Judicial Administration provide for the disqualification of a judge on the 
ground “that the party fears that he or she will not receive a fair trial or hearing 
because of specifically described prejudice or bias of the judge.”  Fla. R. Jud. 
Admin. 2.330(d)(1) (formerly Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.160(d)(1)).  Furthermore, the 
legal sufficiency of a motion to disqualify depends on “whether the facts alleged 
would place a reasonably prudent person in fear of not receiving a fair and 
impartial trial.”  Livingston, 441 So. 2d at 1087.  In particular, judicial comments 
 
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revealing a determination to rule a particular way prior to hearing any evidence or 
argument have been found to be sufficient grounds for disqualification.  See 
Benson v. Tharpe, 685 So. 2d 1363, 1364 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996).  “A trial judge’s 
announced intention before a scheduled hearing to make a specific ruling, 
regardless of any evidence or argument to the contrary, is the paradigm of judicial 
bias and prejudice.”  Gonzalez v. Goldstein, 633 So. 2d 1183, 1184 (Fla. 4th DCA 
1994) (granting a writ of prohibition where the trial court told defense counsel 
before a scheduled resentencing hearing that he would not listen to any mitigation 
evidence and intended to resentence the defendant to the maximum period allowed 
under the guidelines).   
The relevant rules require a motion to disqualify to be filed within ten days 
of learning of the facts constituting the grounds for disqualification.  See Fla. R. 
Jud. Admin. 2.330(e) (formerly Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.160(e)).  Here there is no 
dispute that the motion was filed late, beyond the time required by the rule.  
Furthermore, the testimony of Thompson’s trial counsel at the postconviction 
evidentiary hearing suggests that the untimely filing was not a strategic decision.  
Cf. Occhicone v. State, 768 So. 2d 1037, 1048 (Fla. 2000) (“[S]trategic decisions 
do not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel if alternative courses have been 
considered and rejected and counsel’s decision was reasonable under the norms of 
professional conduct.” (citing Rutherford v. State, 727 So. 2d 216, 223 (Fla. 1998); 
 
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State v. Bolender, 503 So. 2d 1247, 1250 (Fla. 1987))).  At the postconviction 
evidentiary hearing, counsel testified that he had no recollection why the motion 
was untimely.  Under these circumstances, we conclude that Thompson has 
demonstrated deficient performance. 
Next, however, under Strickland, Thompson must also show that he was 
prejudiced by counsel’s ineffectiveness.  See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687 (“Unless 
a defendant makes both showings, it cannot be said that the conviction or death 
sentence resulted from a breakdown in the adversary process that renders the result 
unreliable.”).  To demonstrate prejudice, a defendant must show “that counsel’s 
errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result 
is reliable.”  Id.  In considering this issue, we reject the State’s claim, and the First 
District’s apparent holding, that Strickland requires a showing that the actual 
outcome of the proceedings would have been different but for counsel’s error.  
Rather, we have repeatedly held, consistent with the United States Supreme 
Court’s explanation of the prejudice standard in Strickland, that this standard 
requires a demonstration that the result of the proceeding has been rendered 
unreliable, and our confidence in the outcome of a proceeding has been 
undermined by counsel’s deficiency.  See, e.g., Barnhill v. State, 971 So. 2d 106, 
109-10 (Fla. 2007); Philmore v. State, 937 So. 2d 578, 583 (Fla. 2006); Arbelaez v. 
State, 898 So. 2d 25, 31-32 (Fla. 2005); State v. Davis, 872 So. 2d 250, 253 (Fla. 
 
- 14 -
2004); Davis v. State, 875 So. 2d 359, 365 (Fla. 2003); Gudinas v. State, 816 So. 
2d 1095, 1101 (Fla. 2002); Valle v. State, 778 So. 2d 960, 965-66 (Fla. 2001); 
State v. Riechmann, 777 So. 2d 342, 350 (Fla. 2000).2  We find that Thompson has 
demonstrated the requisite prejudice. 
Thompson relies on the statements made by the judge at the hearing on 
counsel’s motion to withdraw: “With a first degree punishable by life, I don’t think 
we need to be worrying about the guidelines”; and “If he’s convicted . . . he will be 
in prison for the rest of his life . . . .”  He also relies on the fact that the same trial 
judge later imposed departure sentences of life imprisonment and life probation on 
counts I and II, as confirmation that the trial judge had predetermined the life 
sentence before hearing any evidence.  We agree that the statements made by the 
judge in Thompson’s case sufficiently evince judicial bias and predisposition so as 
to undermine confidence in the eventual sentence imposed.  However, we reject 
Thompson’s claim that we should also set aside his convictions, which were 
predicated upon a jury’s determination of his guilt.  While that might have been the 
                                          
 
 
2.  Where the defendant has demonstrated that counsel’s deficiency 
undermined confidence in the outcome, we have found that the defendant has 
shown the necessary prejudice.  See, e.g., Davis, 872 So. 2d at 257 (“For all of 
these reasons, counsel’s overt admissions of racial prejudice compromised his 
representation to such an extent that it has undermined our confidence in the guilty 
verdicts.  Thus, we conclude that Davis has also met the standard for prejudice, in 
that because of counsel’s deficient performance, ‘the trial cannot be relied on as 
having produced a just result.’ ” (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686)). 
 
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outcome if the issue of disqualification had been properly preserved and resolved 
on direct appeal, we do not apply the same standard when considering a claim of 
ineffectiveness of counsel in postconviction proceedings.  We find nothing in the 
record to undermine our confidence in the jury’s determination of guilt. 
We reach a different conclusion, however, as to the imposition of sentence 
by the trial judge.  Except for the limited advisory role played by jurors in capital 
proceedings, trial judges have virtually absolute control and exclusive 
discretionary authority in determining a defendant’s sentence under the controlling 
statutory guidelines.  Hence, it is absolutely essential that a judge be and remain 
impartial prior to the commencement of sentencing proceedings when the positions 
of the respective parties will be presented and considered by the court.  See 
Benson, 685 So. 2d at 1364;  Gonzalez, 633 So. 2d at 1184.  However, the 
statements the trial judge made here at the hearing on the motion to withdraw 
suggest that that the judge had a preconceived and fixed view as to what sentence 
Thompson would receive if he was convicted.  In light of such prejudgment 
expressed by the trial judge at the outset of the proceedings, we conclude that 
counsel’s failure to timely disqualify the judge rendered the result of Thompson’s 
sentencing unreliable, and our confidence in the sentence ultimately imposed upon 
Thompson has been sufficiently undermined to merit relief under Strickland.  Cf. 
Porter v. State, 723 So. 2d 191, 196 (Fla. 1998) (holding that the judge’s 
 
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impartiality did not satisfy the constitutional requirement that the sentencer of a 
capital defendant be impartial and not predisposed to a sentence of either life or 
death).   
CONCLUSION 
 
For the reasons expressed above, we quash the decision of the First District 
in Thompson II and remand with directions for a new sentencing proceeding.  We 
hold that the standard enunciated by the United States Supreme Court in Strickland 
is the appropriate standard for determining prejudice with regard to an ineffective 
assistance of counsel claim based on counsel’s failure to disqualify the presiding 
judge.  We approve of the decisions of the Second District in Kleppinger and the 
Fourth District in Goines to the extent that they are consistent with this opinion. 
 
It is so ordered. 
 
QUINCE, C.J., and PARIENTE, and LEWIS, JJ., concur. 
BELL, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion, in which 
CANTERO, J., concurs. 
WELLS, J., recused. 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
 
BELL, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part. 
 
I agree with the majority that the test enunciated in Strickland v. 
Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), is the proper standard for evaluating ineffective 
assistance of counsel claims alleging that counsel failed to timely file a motion to 
 
- 17 -
disqualify the presiding judge.  I also agree that it is the defendant who bears the 
burden of proving prejudice under Strickland.  However, unlike the majority, I 
believe that Thompson has failed to meet that burden as to both the determination 
of guilt and the sentence imposed.   
In particular, I disagree with the majority’s prejudice analysis regarding the 
sentence imposed by Judge Smith.  What the majority fails to acknowledge is that 
there are two reasonable but conflicting interpretations of Judge Smith’s remarks.  
As found by the experienced postconviction trial judge, one interpretation is that 
Judge Smith’s remarks were simply a reflection of an erroneous belief that the 
sentencing guidelines would not apply if Thompson was convicted as charged.  
The second interpretation is the majority’s view on postconviction appeal, namely 
that Judge Smith’s remarks “suggest that the judge had a preconceived and fixed 
view as to what sentence Thompson would receive if he was convicted.”  Majority 
op. at 16.   
The majority’s decision to ignore the first possible interpretation would be 
the correct one if this matter was before us on direct appeal or as a petition seeking 
an extraordinary writ to prohibit Judge Smith from presiding.  See Livingston v. 
State, 441 So. 2d 1083 (Fla. 1983); Benson v. Tharpe, 685 So. 2d 1363 (Fla. 2d 
DCA 1996); Gonzalez v. Goldstein, 633 So. 2d 1183 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994).  In 
such a posture, we would review whether Judge Smith’s remarks mandated that he 
 
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grant a motion to disqualify, which depends upon “whether the facts alleged would 
place a reasonably prudent person in fear of not receiving a fair and impartial 
trial.”  Livingston, 441 So. 2d at 1087.  Obviously, however, Thompson is not 
before us on direct appeal or seeking extraordinary relief to remove Judge Smith 
from his case.  Instead, he is here appealing the denial of his postconviction claim 
alleging ineffectiveness of his trial counsel.  And as the majority acknowledges, 
“[i]n contrast to [the] relatively low threshold for obtaining relief on appeal, a 
defendant claiming ineffective assistance of trial counsel in postconviction 
proceedings may only obtain relief by showing that counsel’s deficient 
performance actually prejudiced the defense.”  Majority op. at 11 (emphasis 
added).  However, despite this acknowledgment, the majority inexplicably (1) fails 
to apply the more stringent set of rules and principles that apply in postconviction 
proceedings and (2) fails to require proof of actual prejudice.  The proper 
application of these postconviction standards dictates that we affirm the 
postconviction trial judge’s interpretation of Judge Smith’s remarks and deny relief 
because Thompson has failed to prove actual bias.   
 
In Florida, we assume that jurors and trial judges are unbiased.  See Lusk v. 
State, 446 So. 2d 1038, 1041 (Fla. 1984) (affirming denial of challenge to juror 
where the defendant “presented no evidence that prospective juror Williams would 
not have rendered his verdict solely upon the evidence presented”); Enter. Leasing 
 
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Co. v. Jones, 789 So. 2d 964, 967-68 (Fla. 2001) (rejecting rule that presumes bias 
whenever judge is privy to confidential information).  Given this assumption, when 
raising a postconviction claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to strike a 
juror for cause, we require the defendant to prove that the juror was actually biased 
in order to establish prejudice under Strickland.  Carratelli v. State, 961 So. 2d 312, 
324 (Fla. 2007).  If we require the defendant to demonstrate the actual bias of a 
juror, we must surely require a defendant to prove that a presiding judge was 
actually biased in order to establish prejudice under Strickland. 
As stated earlier, Thompson has not met his burden of proving actual bias.  
During the evidentiary hearing on his postconviction motion, Thompson did not 
call Judge Smith to explore what Judge Smith was thinking when he made the 
statements in question.  And, there is no evidence in the record demonstrating that 
Judge Smith was unavailable to provide such testimony.  Moreover, as the First 
District noted, Thompson did not present any evidence suggesting that the 
aggravating factors relied upon by Judge Smith in imposing the departure sentence 
did not exist or that the sentence imposed was not within Judge Smith’s discretion.  
See Thompson v. State, 949 So. 2d 1169, 1174 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007).  Instead, 
during the postconviction proceeding, Thompson merely argued that the 
imposition of a life sentence itself demonstrated prejudice.  Given the heinous 
 
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nature of Thompson’s crime, this life sentence is certainly not enough to prove that 
Judge Smith actually held a biased and predetermined view of sentencing.       
 
To the contrary, after conducting an evidentiary hearing and reviewing the 
record, an experienced trial judge expressly found that Judge Smith’s remarks were 
solely a reflection of an erroneous belief that the sentencing guidelines would not 
apply if Thompson was convicted of a first-degree felony punishable by life.  As 
the trial court’s order explained, 
 
Judge Smith responded to this crisis of representation created 
by Defendant.  He reasoned that Mr. Greenberg, nor others, should 
have anything to fear because Defendant would be in prison for life if 
convicted.  The context of Judge Smith’s remarks appear to be a 
mistaken belief that the guidelines did not impact on a first degree 
felony punishable by life.  The context of the statement of this belief 
was always tied to the threats Defendant made.  Judge Smith:  “Okay.  
So if convicted in that case, he will be spending the rest of his life in 
prison?”  Mr. Greenberg:  “Perhaps if that’s what the guidelines call 
for.”  Judge Smith:  “With a first degree punishable by life, I don’t 
think we need to be worrying about the guidelines.  So his threat is 
that when he gets out of prison, he’s going to make you pay for it and 
kill you and kill me and Mr. Poitinger and Mr. Murrell and the 
families and everybody.” 
 
In ruling on the Motion to Withdraw, the context implies 
Defendant, if not convicted, is not a threat because he will not have 
been convicted.  If convicted, the Judge reasons Defendant cannot 
physically hurt anyone because he will be in prison for life. 
 
The trial court’s finding that Judge Smith’s statements did not reflect bias or 
a predetermination as to sentencing is not contradicted by any evidence in the 
record.  Judge Smith’s remarks were directly linked to denying Mr. Greenberg’s 
motion to withdraw.  And, after the hearing on the motion to withdraw, Judge 
 
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Smith never made a single comment that could even arguably be considered a 
manifestation of bias regarding sentencing.  Then, during the sentencing hearing, 
Judge Smith again never indicated anything but a willingness to listen to the 
defense’s arguments and witnesses.  At the sentencing hearing and in writing 
thereafter, Judge Smith explained his reasons for departing from the sentencing 
guidelines.  His explanation does not reflect any bias or predisposition.  Thus, the 
trial court’s finding regarding the context of Judge Smith’s comments is clearly 
reasonable.  There is absolutely nothing in the record that contradicts the trial 
court’s finding.   
Given Thompson’s failure to satisfy his postconviction burden of proving 
actual bias, I would affirm the postconviction trial court’s reasonable interpretation 
of Judge Smith’s remarks and deny relief.  Accordingly, I concur in part and 
dissent in part. 
CANTERO, J., concurs. 
 
 
Application for Review of the Decision of the District Court of Appeal - Certified 
Direct Conflict of Decisions 
 
 
First District - Case No. 1D06-420 
 
 
(Leon County) 
 
Nancy Daniels, Public Defender, and Phil Patterson, Assistant Public Defender, 
Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
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Bill McCollum, Attorney General, Trisha Meggs Pate, Assistant Attorney General,  
Bureau Chief, Christine A. Guard,  and Giselle Lylen Rivera, Assistant Attorneys 
General, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Respondent