Character Evidence

704 Florida cases classified under this topic, plus 170 listed through its narrower topics · sorted by citation count · see the citation graph · browse and sort

• Robertson v. State
  780 So. 2d 94· Fla. 3d DCA· 2000-04-12 ·cited 2×
  Floyd Thomas Robertson was convicted of second degree murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend. The appellate court reversed and remanded for a new trial, finding that the trial court reversibly erred by allowing the prosecution to introduce inadmissible character evidence
• Williams v. State
  749 So. 2d 587· Fla. 5th DCA· 2000-01-28 ·cited 2×·via Bad Character Evidence
  The court held that disclosing the nature of prior convictions to the jury, even after a stipulation to felon status, is not harmless error and requires reversal.
• Picoriello v. State
  727 So. 2d 339· Fla. 4th DCA· 1999-02-17 ·cited 2×·via Bad Character Evidence
  Errors, if any, regarding the admission of bad character and hearsay evidence were not prejudicial to the appellant's conviction.
• Steinard v. State
  711 So. 2d 105· Fla. 2d DCA· 1998-04-17 ·cited 2×·via Improper Character Evidence
  Wayne Steinard appealed his aggravated assault conviction, challenging the admission of character evidence and the trial court's failure to ensure his presence during peremptory challenges. The court affirmed the conviction but struck two probation conditions that were not orally
• Washington v. Vogel
  880 F. Supp. 1534· M.D. Fla.· 1995-01-05 ·cited 2×
  The court ruled on several motions in limine, granting some in part and denying others, to determine the admissibility of various pieces of evidence at trial.
• Mudd v. State
  638 So. 2d 124· Fla. 1st DCA· 1994-06-07 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the admission of evidence of prior child abuse was improper and not harmless error.
• Pompa v. State
  635 So. 2d 114· Fla. 5th DCA· 1994-04-08 ·cited 2×
  Roger Pompa appealed his conviction for grand theft and sentence as a habitual offender. The appellate court affirmed the conviction but vacated the habitual offender sentence due to lack of factual findings and evidentiary support.
• McKINNEY v. Rees
  993 F.2d 1378· 9th Cir.· 1993-04-28 ·cited 2×
  The erroneous admission of irrelevant character evidence, which preyed on jury emotions and was not supported by a strong case, rendered the defendant's trial fundamentally unfair and violated due process.
• United States v. Sneezer
  983 F.2d 920· 9th Cir.· 1992-12-30 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the district court erroneously concluded that two counts of aggravated sexual abuse should not be grouped together for sentencing purposes.
• United States v. Talamante
  981 F.2d 1153· 10th Cir.· 1992-12-16 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the exclusion of evidence of the victim's prior violent conduct was harmless error, and the trial court did not err in applying the sentencing enhancement for permanent or life-threatening injury.
• United States v. Pedro Martinez (91-1908) & Va. Escamilla (91-2131)
  981 F.2d 867· 6th Cir.· 1992-12-09 ·cited 2×
  The court affirmed the convictions, finding no reversible error in the trial court's rulings on voir dire, prosecutorial argument, indictment sufficiency, evidence variance, sufficiency of evidence, admission of prior bad acts, or jury instructions.
• Sec. & Exch. Comm'n v. Peters
  978 F.2d 1162· 10th Cir.· 1992-10-26 ·cited 2×
  The court held that SEC Rule 14e-3 does not require a breach of fiduciary duty and that the district court erred by refusing to permit cross-examination of character witnesses regarding prior fraud suits.
• United States v. Wales
  977 F.2d 1323· 9th Cir.· 1992-10-20 ·cited 2×
  The court held that while the admission of the false driver's licenses was an error, it was harmless because the other evidence against the defendant was substantial.
• United States v. Xiomaro E. Hernandez
  975 F.2d 1035· 4th Cir.· 1992-09-16 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the district court erred in admitting extraneous evidence of prior bad acts under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) because its probative value was slight and substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
• United States v. Peden
  961 F.2d 517· 5th Cir.· 1992-05-12 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the district court did not err in admitting evidence of a prior conviction, refusing to admit the victim's welfare records, refusing to quash the kidnapping count, or denying motions for acquittal.
• United States v. Mareno M. Waloke
  962 F.2d 824· 8th Cir.· 1992-04-27 ·cited 2×
  The court affirmed the assault convictions and sentence, finding sufficient evidence, proper evidentiary rulings, adequate jury instructions, and correct application of the Sentencing Guidelines.
• United States v. Juan José Pujana-Mena
  949 F.2d 24· 2d Cir.· 1991-10-25 ·cited 2×
  A "standing alone" jury instruction, stating that character evidence alone may create reasonable doubt, is not required in federal criminal trials. The court also held that an agent's testimony regarding general DEA policy on informant reliability, in response to defense cross-ex
• Girtman v. A.L. Lockhart
  942 F.2d 468· 8th Cir.· 1991-08-08 ·cited 2×
  The court held that while the conviction is affirmed, the sentence as a habitual offender must be reversed and remanded because the trial court may have unconstitutionally failed to hold a hearing before transferring the juvenile Girtman to adult court.
• In the Interest of J.R.
  577 So. 2d 674· Fla. 4th DCA· 1991-04-03 ·cited 2×
  Florida appellate court reversed a juvenile delinquency conviction for attempted sexual battery because the trial court admitted prejudicial collateral crime evidence (threatening phone calls) without showing the defendant's participation or knowledge, violating the rule against
• United States v. Stringer
  902 F.2d 1335· 8th Cir.· 1990-05-09 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the admission of urine test results and a jury instruction regarding an informant's prior conduct were not erroneous.
• United States v. Smith
  891 F.2d 935· D.C. Cir.· 1989-12-15 ·cited 2×·via Cross-Examination Of Character Witnesses
  The court held that the trial court did not err in its jury selection method or in denying the motion for mistrial.
• United States v. Hedgcorth
  873 F.2d 1307· 9th Cir.· 1989-05-05 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the napalm firebombs constructed by the defendants qualified as 'destructive devices' under federal law, and that the trial court's evidentiary rulings did not deprive the defendants of a fair trial.
• Stokes v. State
  541 So. 2d 642· Fla. 1st DCA· 1989-02-01 ·cited 2×
  Appellant Stokes was convicted of second degree murder in the stabbing and drowning death of a 15-year-old girl. The First District Court of Appeal reversed because the trial court erred in denying her motion to suppress statements made after she invoked her right to remain silen
• Paquette v. State
  528 So. 2d 995· Fla. 5th DCA· 1988-07-28 ·cited 2×
  Raymond Paquette was convicted of lewd assault on his two young daughters based partly on similar fact evidence including testimony about prior molestation of his niece and indecent exposure incidents. The Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed, holding that the similar fact evi
• United States v. Zimmitti
  850 F.2d 869· 2d Cir.· 1988-06-09 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the evidence was insufficient to convict the defendants of using or conspiring to use extortionate means to collect a debt from DiPietro, as no explicit or implicit threats of violence were proven against him.
• United States v. Cook
  771 F.2d 378· 8th Cir.· 1985-08-21 ·cited 2×
  The court held that defense counsel's strategic elicitation of prejudicial character evidence does not constitute grounds for a new trial, and such claims are properly addressed under ineffective assistance of counsel. The court also held that the prosecutor's comment on an absen
• THE Florida BAR v. Stein
  471 So. 2d 36· Fla.· 1985-06-06 ·cited 2×
  The Florida Bar disciplined attorney Stuart L. Stein for mishandling and neglecting legal matters entrusted to him across three separate complaints. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the referees' recommendations and imposed public reprimands, a ten-day suspension, and costs tot
• United States v. Shaw
  714 F.2d 544· 5th Cir.· 1983-09-15 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the prosecutor's question about the defendant becoming violent when intoxicated was admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) as relevant to intent and absence of mistake, and not solely inadmissible character evidence.
• Ivester v. State
  429 So. 2d 1271· Fla. 1st DCA· 1983-04-05 ·cited 2×
  Ivester appealed his conviction for resisting arrest with violence, arguing that he was denied discovery of his arresting officer's personnel file, which could have supported a self-defense claim. The court held that while the initial denial of discovery was error, the trial cour
• Rojelio Cabrera Castillo v. State
  412 So. 2d 36· Fla. 3d DCA· 1982-04-06 ·cited 2×
  Rojelio Castillo appealed his conviction for second-degree murder and unlawful firearm possession, challenging the admission of statements made without Miranda warnings and cross-examination about a prior act. The Florida appellate court affirmed the conviction, finding the state
• Wright v. Bombard
  638 F.2d 457· 2d Cir.· 1980-10-30 ·cited 2×
  Federal habeas corpus review is foreclosed because the petitioner failed to properly raise his constitutional claim in state court, and thus did not meet the cause and prejudice standard required by Wainwright v. Sykes.
• Charity Ann Murvin v. State
  371 So. 2d 1062· Fla. 1st DCA· 1979-06-05 ·cited 2×
• United States v. Harbin
  585 F.2d 904· 8th Cir.· 1978-10-19 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction and that the trial court did not err in admitting certain evidence or denying motions for discovery.
• Gray v. Sherril
  542 F.2d 953· 5th Cir.· 1976-11-26 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the trial court did not err in denying a mistrial or in admitting character evidence.
• Farabee v. State
  336 So. 2d 1281· Fla. 2d DCA· 1976-09-22 ·cited 2×
• Braen v. State
  302 So. 2d 485· Fla. 2d DCA· 1974-11-06 ·cited 2×
  Daniel Braen was convicted of aggravated assault on a woman involving sexual violence. The Florida appellate court reversed his conviction because evidence of a prior sexual assault on a fourteen-year-old boy was improperly admitted under the Williams rule, as the dissimilarities
• United States v. McINTIRE
  461 F.2d 1092· 5th Cir.· 1972-06-23 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the trial court erred in excluding specific acts of prior beatings offered to support a self-defense claim.
• United States v. Lines
  461 F.2d 282· 8th Cir.· 1972-06-14 ·cited 2×·via Improper Character Evidence
  The court held that the trial court did not err in failing to declare a mistrial sua sponte due to improper testimony, and that the defendant's constitutional claims regarding self-incrimination were foreclosed by Supreme Court precedent.
• United States v. Hardy
  451 F.2d 905· 3d Cir.· 1971-11-17 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the trial court did not err in admitting identification evidence, allowing jury examination of photographs, excluding testimony about the defendant's intent to surrender, denying a mistrial, or admitting expert opinion on police memoranda accuracy.
• Armstrong v. State
  243 So. 2d 181· Fla. 2d DCA· 1971-01-20 ·cited 2×·via Admissibility Of Character Evidence
  The court held that the trial judge properly refused to allow evidence detailing the appellant's prior shooting, as it was not relevant to the current charge.
• Creamer v. State
  205 So. 2d 356· Fla. 2d DCA· 1967-12-29 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the trial court's jury instructions on self-defense were adequate, rendering harmless the refusal to give the specific requested instructions.
• United States v. Stringi
  378 F.2d 896· 3d Cir.· 1967-06-30 ·cited 2×
  The court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in trying all counts together and properly permitted cross-examination of character witnesses.
• THE Florida BAR v. Benedict A. Silverman
  196 So. 2d 442· Fla.· 1967-03-15 ·cited 2×
  The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the Board of Governors' one-year suspension of attorney Benedict Silverman for forging documents and converting client funds, while recognizing his rehabilitation efforts. The case balances serious professional misconduct against evidence of gen
• Templeton v. United States
  151 F.2d 706· 6th Cir.· 1945-11-12 ·cited 2×
  The court held that evidence of a defendant's relationship to a reputed criminal, without any shown connection to the crime, is inadmissible and prejudicial, especially when used to impeach an alibi defense.
• Mose Dennis v. State
  155 Fla. 726· Fla.· 1945-03-13 ·cited 2×
• Manan Land v. State
  71 Fla. 270· Fla.· 1916-03-01 ·cited 2×
  Manan Land was convicted of unlawfully withholding support from his wife and infant child under Florida statute. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, holding that a husband who enjoys the privileges of marital status must bear its responsibilities regardless of age,
• Hance v. The State
  8 Fla. 56· Fla.· 1858-01-01 ·cited 2×·via Admissibility Of Character Evidence
  Mary Hance was convicted of assault and battery and sentenced to six months imprisonment. On appeal, the Florida Supreme Court reversed and granted a new trial, holding that a defendant has the right to introduce evidence of her good character in a criminal prosecution even when
• The Florida Bar v. Brooke Lynnette Girley & The Fla. Bar v. Jerry Girley
  417 So. 3d 230· Fla.· 2025-06-26 ·cited 1×·via Character Or Reputation
  The Florida Supreme Court upheld disciplinary sanctions against attorneys Brooke Lynnette Girley and Jerry Girley for professional misconduct arising from their public statements attacking Judge Kevin Weiss's integrity and accusing him of racial bias after he entered a directed v
• Polypack, Inc. v. Nestle USA, Inc.
  M.D. Fla.· 2025-04-18 ·cited 1×
  The court granted in part and denied in part Nestlé's Omnibus Motion in Limine, excluding certain evidence related to service agreement invoices and employee performance reviews while allowing evidence of set-off and limiting broad characterizations of employee conduct.
• Bankston v. State
  338 So. 3d 252· Fla. 4th DCA· 2021-12-15 ·cited 1×
  The defendant appealed his convictions for kidnapping and sexual battery, challenging the trial court's allowance of an amended information during jury selection, exclusion of evidence regarding the victim's financial motive, and imposition of certain costs. The court affirmed th