Richard Todd Robards v. State of Florida — Pariente, J., Concurring

Summary

Justice Pariente concurred in the majority’s decision denying relief on Robards’s direct appeal from his convictions and death sentences. She emphasized that the record required further factual development concerning counsel’s delayed presentation of mental-health mitigation, viewed the contemporaneous murder and robbery as satisfying the jury-unanimity requirement relevant to the death penalty, and agreed that the closing arguments did not constitute reversible error despite one comment being ill-advised. Justice Labarga, concurring separately, would additionally emphasize the need for trial-court impartiality when the State amends its notice of aggravating circumstances.