Supreme Court of Florida
State of Florida, Appellant v. Thomas D. Woodel, Appellee; Thomas D. Woodel, Cross-Appellant, v. — Canady, J…
June 5, 201439 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 383
Summary
The Florida Supreme Court reversed the trial court’s order granting a new penalty phase because the post‑conviction court’s finding of prejudice under Strickland was unsupported, and it affirmed the denial of a new guilt phase. Justice Canady, concurring in result, held that Woodel failed to show the required prejudice, while Justice Pariente dissented, arguing that the cumulative deficiencies warranted a new penalty phase.