Court Filings

The Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's decision in the criminal case of Glenton Sylvester Hicks against the State of Florida. The opinion is per curiam, brief, and provides no extended reasoning in the published text. The panel unanimously affirmed the lower court's disposition and noted the decision is not final until any timely motion for rehearing is resolved.

The First District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by David Paul Vaughn from a decision of the Circuit Court for Escambia County. The appellate court, in a per curiam decision dated April 16, 2026, affirmed the lower court's ruling. No written opinion accompanied the disposition beyond the single-word judgment "AFFIRMED," and the three judges concurred. The decision is subject to any timely post-judgment motions under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed Michelle Vasquez's appeal from a Santa Rosa County circuit court decision. The three-judge panel issued a per curiam opinion on April 16, 2026, concluding only that the lower court's ruling should be affirmed. No written opinion explaining the court's reasoning is included in the filing; the entry simply records affirmance and notes the decision is not final until any timely authorized motion under Florida appellate rules is resolved.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court's decision in a criminal appeal brought by Johnnie L. Smith. The opinion is per curiam, brief, and states only the disposition—affirmed—without explanatory reasoning. The appeal arose from a judgment or order entered in the Circuit Court for Escambia County, reviewed by a three-judge panel. No substantive discussion of issues or facts appears in the published entry; the court noted the right to file timely post-opinion motions under Florida appellate rules.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Johnnie L. Smith from a decision of the Circuit Court for Escambia County. The court issued a short per curiam opinion on April 16, 2026, concluding simply: AFFIRMED. No additional reasoning or discussion appears in the published entry; the panel of judges Bilbrey, Kelsey, and M.K. Thomas concurred. The opinion notes the case is not final until any authorized timely motions under the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure are resolved.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the Division of Administrative Hearings in a dispute between Seventy7, LLC and the Florida Department of Revenue. The appeal challenged an administrative ruling, but the appellate court, in a per curiam decision with three judges concurring, concluded the lower administrative decision should stand. The opinion contains only the disposition 'AFFIRMED' without published reasoning in this document.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal reversed part of a trial court order in a parenting-plan modification case. Ellen-Rose Fitzgerald sought temporary and permanent relief to relocate with her children; the hearing was noticed only for temporary relief. The trial court nonetheless entered an order granting permanent relief. The appellate court held that granting relief beyond the noticed subject violated due process, affirmed the portion granting temporary relief, reversed the portion granting permanent relief, and remanded for a properly noticed final hearing on permanency.

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Joseph Zieler’s convictions and death sentences for the 1990 murders of R.C. (age 11) and L.S. The convictions rested largely on strong DNA evidence (multiple STR profiles and CODIS hit linking Zieler to the victims’ bedsheet, pillowcase, genital swab, and hairs), autopsy and crime-scene evidence of sexual battery and asphyxiation, and rebuttal of Zieler’s alternative explanations. The Court rejected claims of prosecutorial error under Caldwell, challenges to hair-evidence handling, a sentencing-order drafting issue, facial Eighth Amendment attacks on Florida’s death-penalty scheme, and a unanimity claim, finding no reversible error and sufficient evidence to support guilt and sentence.

The Florida Supreme Court granted the Florida Bar’s petition to amend several Rules Regulating The Florida Bar to replace terminology: “chemical dependency” becomes “substance use disorder” and “psychological problems” becomes “mental health conditions.” The Court also revised a bylaw to allow the Board of Governors to establish programs for enhanced participation by minority members and updated funding restrictions for Bar assistance programs. The amendments are adopted as proposed, will appear in the appendix, and take effect June 15, 2026. One justice dissented, expressing concern about adopting changes tied to external organizations and potential policy consequences.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed Charles Flaherty’s convictions and sentences after review of multiple claims. The court rejected Flaherty’s challenges to evidentiary rulings, denials of pretrial motions asserting self-defense immunity and speedy trial violations, and the claim that the trial court failed to conduct a Faretta hearing. The appellate court also upheld sentences for two counts of attempted second-degree murder, finding no reversible error, but noted the defendant may still raise an improper reclassification sentencing claim in a post-conviction proceeding.

The Florida Supreme Court denied Chadwick Willacy’s requests for public records and related relief after the Governor signed his death warrant. Willacy had sought records from FDOC and other state agencies about Florida’s lethal-injection protocol and interagency communications; the circuit court denied those motions and refused rehearing or in camera review. The Supreme Court treated his appeal as a Rule 9.142(c) petition, found Willacy failed to show the records were tied to a colorable postconviction claim (and were therefore an impermissible fishing expedition), and denied his petition and his habeas petition, dismissed his appeal of an extension request, and denied oral argument.

The Florida Supreme Court adopted several amendments to the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure proposed by The Florida Bar’s Appellate Court Rules Committee. The amendments update cross-references and wording, remove outdated references to the prior e-filing system, align paper filing and service requirements with recent changes to the Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, and revise certificate-of-service forms. The Court explained each change, incorporated consistency edits (for example replacing “pro se” with “unrepresented”), and set the effective date as July 1, 2026. No comments were received on the proposal.