Florida District Courts of Appeal, 1999

Hodges v. State

Hodges v. State
Florida District Courts of Appeal · Decided October 8, 1999 · Cobb, Goshorn, Sharp
741 So. 2d 1262; 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 13357; 1999 WL 817799 (Southern Reporter, Second Series)

Hodges v. State

Concurring Opinion

W. SHARP, J.,

concurring specially.

Hodges’ point on appeal is that Miller v. State, 733 So.2d 955 (Fla. 1998) should be applied retroactively to his case. Miller held that “open to the public” was a complete defense to the crime of burglary. It would have provided Hodges with a defense in this case, in which he was convicted of burglary. However, in order to be retroactively applied, a change in the law must represent a “fundamental” change. Witt v. State, 387 So.2d 922 (Fla. 1980). What constitutes a “fundamental” change in the law is a rather fluid concept, not easily pinned down. However, I consider Miller a “refinement” of the law, and, without direction from the Florida Supreme Court, it should not be applied retroactively.

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

AFFIRMED.

COBB and GOSHORN, JJ., concur. W. SHARP, J., concurs specially, with opinion.

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