Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

112 So. 3d 503

Fluker v. Buss

District Court of Appeal of Florida

Decided October 17, 2012

District Court of Appeal of Florida · decided 2012-10-17

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently October 2013

1 state decisions

Relies on 39 So. 3d 252 - State v. Montgomery · 89 So. 3d 250 - Cukierman v. BankAtlantic

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 2012-10-17

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

PER CURIAM.

¶1Khambriel Fluker has petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus alleging ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. Fluker asserts that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that an instruction given to the jury was erroneous pursuant to State v. Montgomery, 89 So.3d 252 (Fla.2010). Fluker’s direct appeal was not concluded until well after Montgomery *504was decided. We agree that appellate counsel for the direct appeal (the Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel) was ineffective for failing to raise this issue. We therefore grant the petition and remand for a new trial.

¶2The state asserts that an argument similar to the one it raises in its response here is being considered by the Florida Supreme Court in Daniels v. State, SC11-2170 (review granted Feb. 3, 2012) (oral argument Aug. 2, 2012). In view of this similarity, at the state’s request, we also certify the following question:

WHETHER A MANSLAUGHTER INSTRUCTION, ALTHOUGH ERRONEOUS UNDER State v. Montgomery, 39 So.3d 252 (Fla.2010), AND ITS PROGENY, BUT WHICH NEVERTHELESS, BASED ON THE FACTS AND EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL, ENABLES THE JURY TO EXERCISE ITS JURY PARDON POWER, CONSTITUTES FUNDAMENTAL ERROR.

¶3Petition granted; question certified; and remanded for new trial.

/112/so3d/503 · .json · Public domain