Opinion

Johnson v. State

  • 394 So. 2d 1121
  • 1981 Fla. App. LEXIS 18915
Court
District Court of Appeal of Florida
Filed
Mar 11, 1981
Status
Published
Author
Orfinger
On the bench
Orfinger, Sharp, Upchurch
Cited by
5 cases
Authority
More cited than 69.9%

The opinion

ORFINGER, Judge.

Because the failure to give the instruction on penalties was properly preserved for appeal under Tascano v. State, 393 So.2d 540 (Fla.1980), (rehearing denied), and Kelly v. State, 389 So.2d 250 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980), we must reverse the conviction and order a new trial. However, because the evidence of appellant’s guilt is clear and the failure to give the instruction appears to be harmless, we certify to the Supreme Court of Florida the same question already certified in Gee v. State, No. 80-336 (Fla. 5th DCA February 11,1981), viz:

CAN AN APPELLATE COURT APPLY THE HARMLESS ERROR DOCTRINE, SECTION 924.33 AND SECTION 59.041, FLORIDA STATUTES (1979), TO THE FAILURE OF A TRIAL COURT TO GIVE THE JURY INSTRUCTION REQUIRED BY RULE 3.390(a), FLORIDA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, IF THE APPELLANT’S GUILT IS CLEARLY ESTABLISHED AND THE APPELLATE COURT DETERMINES THE ERROR COULD NOT HAVE AFFECTED THE VERDICT?

REVERSED and REMANDED. QUESTION CERTIFIED.

FRANK D. UPCHURCH, Jr. and SHARP, JJ., concur.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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