ANTON J. KRAWCZUK, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE.

Fla. | 2018-01-31
No. SC17–1142
237 So. 3d 915 Florida Supreme Court (2018)

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Synopsis

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Krawczuk's motion for relief based on Hurst v. Florida, holding that Hurst does not apply retroactively to death sentences that became final before the Hurst decision.


Holding

Hurst v. Florida does not apply retroactively to Krawczuk's death sentence because the sentence became final in 1994, before the Hurst decision. Therefore, Krawczuk is not entitled to relief under Hurst.


Headnotes

[1] The Supreme Court's decision in Hurst v. …

[2] A motion for postconviction relief based on Hurst v. …

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Key Quotes

“Krawczuk was sentenced to death following a jury's unanimous recommendation for death.”

Establishes the factual basis for Krawczuk's death sentence.

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Facts & Procedural History

Krawczuk was sentenced to death following a jury's unanimous recommendation for death in 1994. His death sentence became final in 1994. Krawczuk filed…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

*916We have for review Anton J. Krawczuk's appeal of the circuit court's order denying Krawczuk's motion filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851. This Court has jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla. Const.

Krawczuk's motion sought relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court's decision in Hurst v. Florida, --- U.S. ----, 136 S.Ct. 616, 193 L.Ed.2d 504 (2016), and our decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst ), 202 So.3d 40 (Fla. 2016), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 137 S.Ct. 2161, 198 L.Ed.2d 246 (2017). This Court stayed Krawczuk's appeal pending the disposition of Hitchcock v. State, 226 So.3d 216 (Fla. 2017), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 138 S.Ct. 513, 199 L.Ed.2d 396 (2017). After this Court decided Hitchcock, Krawczuk responded to this Court's order to show cause arguing why Hitchcock should not be dispositive in this case.

After reviewing Krawczuk's response to the order to show cause, as well as the State's arguments in reply, we conclude that Krawczuk is not entitled to relief. Krawczuk was sentenced to death following a jury's unanimous recommendation for death. Krawczuk v. State, 634 So.2d 1070, 1072 (Fla. 1994). Krawczuk's sentence of death became final in 1994. Krawczuk v. Florida, 513 U.S. 881, 115 S.Ct. 216, 130 L.Ed.2d 143 (1994). Thus, Hurst does not apply retroactively to Krawczuk's sentence of death. See Hitchcock, 226 So.3d at 217. Accordingly, we affirm the denial of Krawczuk's motion.

The Court having carefully considered all arguments raised by Krawczuk, we caution that any rehearing motion containing reargument will be stricken. It is so ordered.

LABARGA, C.J., and POLSTON, and LAWSON, JJ., concur.

PARIENTE, J., concurs in result with an opinion.

LEWIS and CANADY, JJ., concur in result.

QUINCE, J., recused.

PARIENTE, J., concurring in result.

I concur in result because I recognize that this Court's opinion in Hitchcock v. State, 226 So.3d 216 (Fla. 2017), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 138 S.Ct. 513, 199 L.Ed.2d 396 (2017), is now final. However, I continue to adhere to the views expressed in my dissenting opinion in Hitchcock.


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