Supreme Court of Florida, 2017

Michael A. Hernandez, Jr. v. Julie L. Jones, etc.

Michael A. Hernandez, Jr. v. Julie L. Jones, etc.
Supreme Court of Florida · Decided May 11, 2017 · Labarga, Pariente, Lewis, Quince, Canady, Polston, Lawson
217 So. 3d 1032; 42 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 553; 2017 WL 1954985; 2017 Fla. LEXIS 1054 (Southern Reporter, Third Series)

Michael A. Hernandez, Jr. v. Julie L. Jones, etc.

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Petitioner, Michael A. Hernandez, Jr., has filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, challenging the constitutionality of his death sentence, which was based upon a nonunanimous jury recommendation. See Hernandez v. State, 4 So.3d 642, 654 (Fla. 2009). We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(9), Fla. Const. Because Hernandez’s sentence became final after Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153 L.Ed.2d 556 (2002), he is entitled to relief. See Mosley v. State, 209 So.3d 1248 (Fla. 2016). Accordingly, we grant the petition, vacate the sentence of death, and remand this case for a new penalty phase proceeding.

It is so ordered.

LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, and QUINCE, JJ., concur. CANADY, POLSTON, and LAWSON, JJ., dissent.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.