State of Florida, Appellant v. Thomas D. Woodel, Appellee; Thomas D. Woodel, Cross-Appellant, v. State of Florida…

Summary

The court reversed the postconviction order granting Woodel a new penalty phase, affirmed the denial of a new guilt phase, and reinstated the death sentence. It held that Woodel failed to establish prejudice under the ineffective-assistance standard because the additional mitigation was cumulative, insufficiently demonstrated, or not reasonably likely to alter the sentencing result, and because the challenged testimony and disclosure claims did not warrant relief. Justice Canady, concurring in result, agreed that prejudice was not shown; Justice Pariente, dissenting, would have affirmed the new penalty phase based on counsel’s inadequate cumulative mitigation investigation and the close sentencing vote.