Court Filings

The Florida Second District Court of Appeal affirmed a lower-court decision in a criminal matter. The appeal, filed by Gregory Brett Johnson, was considered on the record from the Circuit Court for Hillsborough County. The appellate court issued a brief per curiam opinion simply stating 'Affirmed' without further explanation; three judges concurred. No substantive reasoning, discussion of issues, or citation of authorities appears in the published entry provided.

The District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District, issued a brief per curiam decision affirming a lower-court ruling. The appeal was brought by Joshua Jennings against Richard Clark from the Hillsborough County Circuit Court. The appellate panel, with all three judges concurring, affirmed the trial court's decision without published opinion and noted the opinion may be revised before official publication. No further reasoning or factual background is provided in the document.

The appellate court affirmed the trial court's dismissal of Gerald Harrell's postconviction motion but found a clerical error in the dismissal directive. The judgment below correctly dismissed Harrell's motion for postconviction relief, yet the written order mistakenly identified the November 20, 2023 motion as dismissed with prejudice when it should have referred to the November 22, 2023 motion. The case is therefore remanded solely to correct that scrivener's error in the order; no change was made to the substantive dismissal.

The District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District, reviewed an appeal by Lorenzo Gulley, Jr. from a Pinellas County circuit court decision. After considering the record and briefs, the panel issued a per curiam opinion affirming the lower court's decision. The court provided no published opinion or detailed reasoning in this entry; the judgment of the trial court therefore stands as affirmed by the appellate court.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal granted Leon N. Wiley, Jr.'s pro se petition for a belated appeal. The court treated its opinion as the notice of appeal from the February 27, 2024 order denying Wiley's motions for postconviction relief in Flagler County Circuit Court Case No. 2019-CF-000303, and directed that a copy be filed with the trial court. The petition was granted under the Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure governing belated appeals, allowing Wiley to pursue appellate review despite missing the original appeal deadline.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal granted Jose Manuel Troche's petition for a belated appeal. The court directed that this opinion be filed with the trial court and treated as the notice of appeal from the December 15, 2025 order that denied Troche's postconviction motion in Hernando County Circuit Court case 2022-CF-000614-A. The grant restores Troche's right to pursue appellate review of the denial of postconviction relief under Florida appellate procedure.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal denied Elizabeth Collins's emergency second petition seeking a writ of prohibition, other extraordinary relief, and an immediate constitutional stay against the trial judge. The court issued a short per curiam order denying the petition and cited Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.330(i) and Delgado v. Miller as supporting authority. No respondent appeared, and three judges concurred. The denial is subject to any timely authorized motion under the appellate rules.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed an Anders appeal by Clifton Cinamon challenging the revocation of his community control and the subsequent sentence. The court found no reversible error in the appeal but identified a clerical mistake: the written sentence states 56.750 months, while the oral pronouncement was 56.7 months. Because the orally pronounced sentence controls, the court remanded for the trial court to correct the scrivener's error in the written judgment. The correction is ministerial and does not require the defendant's presence.

The Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal granted Charles Jeffrey McPherson's petition for a belated appeal. The court ordered that this opinion be filed with the trial court and treated as the notice of appeal from the February 17, 2026 judgment and sentence in Clay County Circuit Court case number 10-2025-CF-874-A, under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(c)(6)(D). The court issued its disposition without the State appearing and noted that the decision is not final until any timely authorized post-opinion motions are resolved.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's denial of Joseph George Heid IV's postconviction motion. The appellate court affirmed the decision in full but noted the trial court may still consider, under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850, a separate pending postconviction motion asserting newly discovered video evidence. The panel issued a per curiam order affirming the denial and left open further consideration of the distinct 3.850 claim by the postconviction court.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal dismissed Johnny Antonio Thomas’s appeal from a county-court order that struck his six counterclaims and setoff defenses in a small-claims action by Chaney’s Used Cars to recover a loan deficiency after repossession and sale. The panel concluded it lacked jurisdiction because the dismissed counterclaims arose from the same transaction as the plaintiff’s claim and therefore were compulsory; orders dismissing compulsory counterclaims are not immediately appealable while the original claim remains pending. The court also rejected alternative bases for interlocutory review and ordered the appeal dismissed.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's decision in a criminal case involving Janet Roster. The panel held that the State presented sufficient evidence to support a trafficking offense by relying on the aggregate weight and testing of individual baggies of a controlled substance, and applying precedent that requires viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State. The court cited Mosley v. State and Bell v. State to justify both the sufficiency of the tested quantities and the standard for resolving a motion to dismiss, and therefore affirmed the lower court's ruling.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Bridge Golde from a Glades County County Court decision. The appellate court, in a brief per curiam order, affirmed the lower court's decision and cited Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.315(a). All three judges concurred. The appellant proceeded pro se and the appellee did not appear. The opinion is short-form and finality is subject to the time for filing a motion for rehearing.

The First District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Demiko White from a judgment of the Circuit Court for Alachua County. After consideration, the appellate court issued a per curiam opinion on April 24, 2026, summarily affirming the lower court's decision. The court provided no published opinion or extended reasoning in the document and noted that the decision is not final until any timely authorized motion under Florida appellate rules is resolved.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Demiko White from a decision of the Alachua County Circuit Court. The appellate court issued a per curiam opinion on April 24, 2026, and affirmed the lower court's judgment. No detailed opinions or reasoning are included in the published entry; the court simply announced affirmation and noted that the decision is not final until potential timely motions under the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure are resolved.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed Michael Christopher Thompson's appeal from a decision of the Circuit Court for Santa Rosa County. The appellate panel issued a per curiam opinion on April 24, 2026, and the court affirmed the lower court's judgment. The opinion is brief, provides no expanded explanation, and notes that the decision is not final until any timely authorized motion under Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331 is resolved.

The First District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's decision in a case filed by appellant Tony L. Scott against the State of Florida. The opinion is per curiam, dated April 24, 2026, and states simply 'AFFIRMED' without additional published reasoning. The panel of judges (Rowe, Nordby, and Long) concurred. The clerk notes the decision is not final until any timely, authorized motions under Florida appellate rules are resolved.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed Jimmy Ressler's appeal from a Santa Rosa County circuit court decision. The appellate court issued a brief per curiam opinion on April 24, 2026, and affirmed the lower court's ruling. The opinion contains no extended discussion of facts or legal reasoning beyond the single-word disposition, and the panel of judges (Rowe, Nordby, and Long) concurred. Counsel for the parties are noted, and the opinion states it is not final until any timely authorized postjudgment motions are resolved.

The First District Court of Appeal affirmed a lower-court decision in a criminal case. The appeal was brought by Stephanie Dana Reese from a judgment of the County Court for Bay County. The appellate court issued a short per curiam decision on April 24, 2026, simply stating "AFFIRMED," with three judges concurring. The opinion contains no elaboration of reasoning or factual detail beyond the affirmance and the appellate representation for both sides.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Shaheed Kabree Gardner from a decision of the Circuit Court for Alachua County. The appellate court, in a per curiam decision, affirmed the lower court's judgment. No published opinion or detailed reasoning is provided in the entry; the court simply announced affirmance and noted the decision is not final until the time for certain post-judgment motions expires.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal dismissed Container Corporation and Hartford Fire Insurance Company's petition for a writ of certiorari seeking relief in an original proceeding brought against James Way. The court issued a brief per curiam decision on April 24, 2026, stating only “DISMISSED” and noting the opinion is not final until any timely motions under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331 are resolved. No substantive reasoning or legal analysis appears in the published entry beyond the dismissal and concurrence by the three judges.

The First District Court of Appeal reviewed Bud Chatman’s appeal from the Circuit Court for Escambia County and, in a brief per curiam decision dated April 24, 2026, affirmed the lower court’s judgment. The opinion is unsigned and states only the disposition—affirmed—with all three judges concurring. No reasoning or factual discussion is included in the published entry. The clerk’s note reminds parties that the decision is not final until any timely, authorized motion under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331 is resolved.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal dismissed Brian Bacchus’s appeal from a judges of compensation claims decision concerning an April 20, 2021 accident. The court issued a brief per curiam order simply stating 'DISMISSED' without published opinion or extended reasoning. The dismissal ends this appeal at the appellate level unless the appellant timely files an authorized motion under the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure to challenge that procedural disposition.

The Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court's decision in a criminal appeal brought by Doderick Woods-Smith against the State of Florida. The appeal was taken under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(b)(2) from the Circuit Court for DeSoto County. The per curiam opinion is brief and simply states “Affirmed,” with three judges concurring. No additional reasoning, factual background, or legal analysis is included in the published opinion.

The appellate court reviewed an appeal by Kimberly C. Shook from a Pasco County Court decision and, after consideration, issued a per curiam opinion affirming the lower court's judgment. The appeal was submitted with the appellant appearing pro se and no counsel appearing for the appellee. The opinion is brief, notes concurrence by the three-judge panel, and affirms the county court ruling without published reasoning in this short entry.

The Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's decision in an appeal brought by Vincent H. Osorio against Elizabeth Osorio. The appellate court reviewed the circuit court's ruling in Pasco County and, after considering the parties' briefs and record, concluded there was no reversible error and upheld the lower court's judgment. The opinion was issued per curiam without a published written opinion, and the three-judge panel concurred. No further reasoning or detailed findings were included in the short docketed opinion.

The Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's ruling in a criminal matter brought by Lary Scott Morris, Jr. against the State of Florida. The opinion is per curiam, short, and provides no extended explanation; the appellate panel (Chief Judge Lucas and Judges Silberman and Smith) announced agreement with the lower court's decision and affirmed the judgment. The decision was issued April 24, 2026, and the opinion is subject to revision before official publication.

The Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court's decision in a criminal appeal by Sarah Kynay Martinez against the State of Florida. The appeal was taken under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(b)(2) from the Hillsborough County Circuit Court. The per curiam opinion, issued April 24, 2026, concluded the appellant's challenge lacked merit and therefore affirmed the judgment below. Three judges concurred and the opinion may be revised before official publication.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the appellant's conviction. The appeal challenged trial rulings related to a search and the revocation hearing, but the court relied on prior decisions holding that smell plus additional observations can support searches and that failure to object preserves nothing for appeal. Because the case involved more than the smell of cannabis and the defendant failed to contemporaneously object at the revocation hearing, the panel concluded no reversible error occurred and affirmed the lower court's decision.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s denial of Patrick Maxwell’s request for resentencing. Maxwell sought resentencing under an earlier Fifth District decision, but before resentencing occurred the Florida Supreme Court clarified in Pedroza v. State that juvenile offenders need resentencing only if their sentence is life or a functional equivalent. The appellate court held the trial court correctly applied the new Pedroza standard and therefore properly denied resentencing. The court found no error and affirmed the lower court’s order.