Court Opinion

ID: 4800347
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-21 00:08:07.167895+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:10:08.884579
License: Public Domain

KHOUZAM, Judge.
Affirmed. See Williams v. State, 66 So.3d 360 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011). As in Williams, we hold that a trial court’s failure to instruct the jury on section 812.025, Florida Statutes (2011), does not constitute fundamental error. Also as in Williams, we recognize conflict with Kiss v. State, 42 So.3d 810 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010), and certify to the Florida Supreme Court the following questions of great public importance:
1. MUST THE TRIAL COURT INSTRUCT THE JURY TO PER*98FORM THE SELECTION PROCESS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 812.025 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES?
2. IF SO, MUST THE APPELLATE COURT ORDER A NEW TRIAL ON BOTH OFFENSES IF THE TRIAL COURT FAILS TO GIVE THE INSTRUCTION?
3. IF THE APPELLATE COURT IS NOT REQUIRED TO MANDATE A NEW TRIAL, MUST IT REQUIRE THE TRIAL COURT TO SELECT THE GREATER OFFENSE OR THE LESSER OFFENSE WHEN THE TWO OFFENSES ARE OFFENSES OF DIFFERENT DEGREES OR OF DIFFERENT SEVERITY RANKING?
Affirmed; question certified.
ALTENBERND and SLEET, JJ., Concur.