Defendant Wins Reversal

The Florida Supreme Court issued an important ruling last week, reversing a conviction for first-degree murder.  Below is the summary.

Jackson v. State

Opinion Date: November 15, 2012

Judge: Per Curiam

Areas of Law: Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law

Appellant appealed from a judgment of conviction of first-degree murder and a sentence of death for the killing of Andrea Boyer, as well as a conviction for sexual battery by use of actual physical force likely to cause serious personal injury. The Supreme Court reversed the convictions, vacated the sentence of death, and remanded for a new trial, holding that reversible error occurred in the guilt phase of the trial, when the State introduced a lengthy videotape of Appellant's custodial interrogation in which the investigating officers repeatedly expressed their personal opinions about Appellant's guilt and the victim's character and family life. 

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