Opinion ID: 4532456
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Hurst v. Florida and Hurst v. State

Text: Franqui also argues that he is entitled to relief pursuant to Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and Hurst v. State, 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016), receded from in part by State v. Poole, 45 Fla. L. Weekly S41 (Fla. Jan. 23, 2020), clarified, 45 Fla. L. Weekly S121 (Fla. Apr. 2, 2020). However, neither case provides a basis for relief because in each of Franqui’s cases, a jury unanimously found the existence of an aggravating factor beyond a reasonable doubt. See Poole, 45 Fla. -7- L. Weekly at S48 (“reced[ing] from Hurst v. State except to the extent it requires a jury unanimously to find the existence of a statutory aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt”); see also McKinney v. Arizona, 140 S. Ct. 702, 707 (2020) (stating that under Hurst v. Florida, “a jury must find the aggravating circumstance that makes the defendant death eligible,” but a jury “is not constitutionally required to weigh the aggravating and mitigating circumstances or to make the ultimate sentencing decision within the relevant sentencing range”). In the Hialeah case, Franqui was also convicted of attempted robbery, which was found as an aggravating factor. In the North Miami case, Franqui was also convicted of robbery, which was also found as an aggravating factor. These findings satisfy the requirements of Hurst v. Florida and Hurst v. State. Moreover, Franqui’s argument that Hurst v. Florida compels a jury determination of intellectual disability is without merit. Under Florida law, both the statute and the rule governing intellectual disability in capital cases provide that the determination shall be made by a judge, not a jury. See § 921.137, Fla. Stat. (2017); Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.203(e). Further, intellectual disability is a categorical bar to execution, and Hurst v. Florida does not address findings that render a defendant ineligible to be executed. For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the denial of Franqui’s claim of intellectual disability. -8- It is so ordered. POLSTON, LAWSON, and MUÑIZ, JJ., concur. CANADY, C.J., concurs in result with an opinion. LABARGA, J., concurs in result with an opinion. NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED. CANADY, C.J., concurring in result. I agree that the decision of the circuit court should be affirmed. But I would reject the intellectual disability claim on the ground that Hall v. Florida, 572 U.S. 701 (2014), should not be given retroactive effect. See Walls v. State, 213 So. 3d 340, 350-52 (Fla. 2016) (Canady, J., dissenting). LABARGA, J., concurring in result. I agree that the circuit court did not err in denying Franqui’s intellectual disability claim. I also agree with the denial of Franqui’s Hurst-related claims because this Court held that Hurst v. Florida 1 and Hurst v. State2 do not apply retroactively to cases where the defendant’s death sentence was final when Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584 (2002), was decided. See Hitchcock v. State, 226 So. 3d 216, 217 (Fla. 2017).
2. Hurst v. State, 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016), receded from in part by State v. Poole, 45 Fla. L. Weekly S41 (Fla. Jan. 23, 2020). -9- However, rather than rely on Hitchcock, the majority relies on State v. Poole, 45 Fla. L. Weekly S41 (Fla. Jan. 23, 2020), clarified, 45 Fla. L. Weekly S121 (Fla. Apr. 2, 2020), a wrongfully decided opinion to which I strenuously dissented. Because I conclude that the denial of Hurst relief in this case is correctly based on Hitchcock and not Poole, I can only concur in the result. An Appeal from the Circuit Court in and for Miami-Dade County, Ellen Sue Venzer, Judge - Case Nos. 131992CF002141B000XX and 131992CF006089B000XX Todd G. Scher of Law Office of Todd G. Scher, P.L., Hollywood, Florida; and Martin J. McClain of McClain & McDermott, P.A., Wilton Manors, Florida, for Appellant Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida, and Lisa-Marie Lerner, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, Florida, for Appellee - 10 -