Markeith D. Loyd v. State of Florida

Summary

The court affirmed Loyd’s convictions and death sentence, rejecting challenges involving jury selection, jury instructions, prosecutorial argument, competency, equal protection, death qualification, and the constitutionality of Florida’s death-penalty scheme. The court found one penalty-phase evidentiary error in permitting irrelevant background music during victim-impact evidence, but held the error harmless. The court declined to reach the State’s cross-appeal because affirmance made it moot.