Opinion ID: 1090109
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Florida's Death Penalty is Unconstitutional

Text: Franqui next asserts that Florida's death penalty scheme is unconstitutional under Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153 L.Ed.2d 556 (2002). However, both this court and the United States Supreme Court have held that Ring does not apply retroactively. See Johnson v. State, 904 So.2d 400 (Fla.2005); Schriro v. Summerlin, 542 U.S. 348, 124 S.Ct. 2519, 159 L.Ed.2d 442 (2004). Franqui's death sentence became final after the Court rejected his direct appeal following resentencing in 2001; therefore, Franqui cannot rely on Ring to find his death sentence unconstitutional. See Washington v. State, 907 So.2d 512, 514 (Fla.) (finding defendant not entitled to relief under Ring because Ring is not applied retroactively), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 1064, 126 S.Ct. 802, 163 L.Ed.2d 632 (2005).