Florida District Courts of Appeal, 1996

Smith v. State

Smith v. State
Florida District Courts of Appeal · Decided July 16, 1996 · Allen, Miner, Webster
680 So. 2d 545; 1996 Fla. App. LEXIS 7570; 1996 WL 393020 (Southern Reporter, Second Series)

Smith v. State

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

Appellant seeks review of a final order summarily denying his motion seeking post-conviction relief pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. Of the instances of alleged ineffective assistance of trial counsel asserted by appellant, only one merits discussion.

Appellant claimed that trial counsel prevented him from testifying in his own defense, notwithstanding his expressed desire to do so. Such a claim is legally sufficient. E.g., Vandenburgh v. State, 658 So.2d 181 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995); Wilson v. State, 647 So. 2d 185 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994). Accordingly, we reverse and remand as to this claim only. On remand, the trial court shall either attach to its order denying relief portions of the record conclusively showing that appellant is entitled to no relief, or hold an evidentiary hearing. In all other respects, the order is affirmed.

AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; and REMANDED, with directions.

MINER, ALLEN and WEBSTER, JJ., concur.

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