Opinion ID: 1651278
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Penalty-Phase Jury Instructions About Mitigating Factors

Text: Stewart asserts that the penalty-phase jury instructions used in his case unconstitutionally shifted the burden of proof to him to establish mitigating factors and that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the instructions on appeal. Stewart's substantive challenge to the jury instructions is procedurally barred because it could have been raised on direct appeal. See, e.g., Grim v. State, 971 So.2d 85, 103 (Fla.2007) (holding that habeas claim regarding constitutionality of standard jury instructions was procedurally barred). In addition, both Stewart's challenge to the instructions and his claim that appellate counsel was ineffective are without merit. Stewart concedes that the standard jury instructions regarding aggravating and mitigating factors were used in his case. We have previously rejected the arguments raised by Stewart and upheld the standard instructions as constitutional. See, e.g., Johnson v. State, 969 So.2d 938, 961-62 (Fla.2007) (rejecting arguments that standard instructions unconstitutionally place burden of proof on defendant to prove death sentence is inappropriate and improperly restrict evidence that jury may consider in mitigation). Stewart offers no reason why we should depart from precedent. Accordingly, his constitutional challenge is without merit, and thus appellate counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise such an argument on appeal. See Smithers, 18 So.3d at 473 (holding that appellate counsel cannot be found ineffective for failing to raise a meritless issue).