Matthew Lee Caylor, Appellant v. State of Florida, Appellee; Matthew Lee Caylor, Petitioner, v. Julie L. Jones…

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of Caylor’s postconviction motion, concluding that the record refuted his claim that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge Juror Weaver. It granted habeas relief, vacated Caylor’s death sentence, and ordered a new penalty phase because the eight-to-four jury recommendation and lack of unanimous findings rendered the sentencing error not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The court rejected Caylor’s argument that Florida law automatically required a life sentence without parole; POLSTON, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part, would not have vacated the death sentence.