Opinion ID: 1603389
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Ring v. Arizona Claims

Text: Lastly, Hunter argues that his death sentence is unconstitutional under Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153 L.Ed.2d 556 (2002). [13] Hunter was charged with and convicted of committing six first-degree murders, both premeditated and felony murder. Those convictions by a unanimous jury formed the basis for the trial court's finding of the prior violent felony aggravator. Consequently, Ring is inapplicable. See, e.g., Bevel v. State, 983 So.2d 505 (Fla.2008); Carter v. State, 980 So.2d 473, 484-485 (Fla.2008), petition for cert. filed, No. 08-5606 (U.S. July 2, 2008). Moreover, we have previously rejected his arguments regarding the constitutionality of Florida's capital sentencing scheme. See, e.g., Merck v. State, 975 So.2d 1054, 1067 (Fla. 2007) (defendant not entitled to notice of aggravators in the indictment and jury may recommend death by majority vote), petition for cert. filed, No. 07-10853 (U.S. May 9, 2008); Frances v. State, 970 So.2d 806, 822 (Fla.2007) ( Ring does not require aggravating circumstances to be found individually by unanimous jury), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ____, 128 S.Ct. 2441, 171 L.Ed.2d 241 (2008); Kormondy v. State, 845 So.2d 41, 54 (Fla.2003) (special verdict forms not required under Ring ). Thus, we conclude that Hunter's Ring claims are without merit.