Charles L. Anderson, Appellant v. State of Florida, Appellee; Charles L. Anderson, Petitioner, v. Julie L. Jones…

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of postconviction relief concerning Anderson’s first-degree murder conviction and denied his habeas petition. It held that his ineffective-assistance, evidence-preservation, newly discovered evidence, felony-murder, and scientific-evidence claims were legally insufficient, conclusory, procedurally barred, or refuted by the record. Applying the intervening capital-sentencing decision retroactively, the court vacated Anderson’s death sentence because the jury’s eight-to-four recommendation was nonunanimous and remanded for a new penalty phase. Canady, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part, agreed as to the conviction and habeas petition but would not have applied the intervening sentencing decision retroactively or required a new penalty phase.