John Lee Hampton, Appellant v. State of Florida, Appellee; John Lee Hampton, Petitioner, v. Julie L. Jones

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of postconviction relief on Hampton's guilt-phase ineffective-assistance claims and upheld the determination that he was not intellectually disabled. It nevertheless granted habeas relief, vacated the death sentence, and ordered a new penalty phase because the State could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the nonunanimous and otherwise deficient capital sentencing process was harmless. The separate writing by Justice Polston, joined by Justices Canady and Lawson, agreed with the court except for vacating the death sentence under the jury-trial rule.