Opinion ID: 1709393
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Failure to Propose an Expanded CCP Jury Instruction

Text: Gore argues that his counsel was ineffective for the failure to propose an expanded CCP jury instruction. Gore's counsel was not deficient in this regard. The resentencing of Gore occurred prior to Jackson v. State, 648 So.2d 85 (Fla. 1994), in which this Court held that the standard CCP jury instruction was unconstitutionally vague. See id. at 87. Gore's counsel was not deficient for the failure to offer an alternative CCP instruction, because Gore's counsel was not even required to initially object to the standard CCP jury instruction as this jury instruction was considered proper at that time. See Downs v. State, 740 So.2d 506, 518 (Fla.1999) (holding that because the CCP instruction given at the resentencing was approved by this Court as the proper standard jury instruction, defense counsel was not ineffective for failing to object). Additionally, there was no prejudice. On direct appeal, this Court previously determined that regardless of the type of CCP instruction given to the jury, the jury would have returned a finding of CCP due to the overwhelming evidence of this aggravator. See Gore, 706 So.2d at 1334. Accordingly, any error with regard to the CCP jury instruction was harmless. See id.