Kevin F. Tomlinson v. State of Florida

Summary

The court held that “maliciously” in Florida’s extortion statute means acting intentionally and without lawful justification, not acting from hatred, spite, or ill will toward the victim. It relied on the statutory context, the term’s historical legal meaning, and the continuity of the statute’s language. The court approved the lower appellate decision and disapproved the conflicting interpretation. No separate opinions were filed.