Douglas M. Williams v. State of Florida - Belated Appeal

FL District Court of Appeal Opinions

Filed February 27th, 2026

Detected February 28th, 2026

Summary

The Florida District Court of Appeal granted a petition for belated appeal in Douglas M. Williams v. State of Florida. The court treated the opinion as a notice of appeal from a prior order denying a petition for writ of habeas corpus.

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What changed

The Florida District Court of Appeal has granted a petition for belated appeal in the case of Douglas M. Williams v. State of Florida. The court's opinion, dated February 27, 2026, will be filed with the trial court and will serve as the notice of appeal for the October 27, 2025 order that denied the petitioner's writ of habeas corpus. This action is taken pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(c)(6)(D).

This ruling allows the petitioner to proceed with an appeal that would otherwise have been untimely. Legal professionals representing clients in Florida should note this procedural mechanism for belated appeals, particularly in cases involving prior denials of habeas corpus petitions. The trial court is directed to treat this opinion as the official notice of appeal, initiating the appellate process for the underlying case.

What to do next

File opinion with the trial court to serve as notice of appeal.

Source document (simplified)

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Feb. 27, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note

Douglas M. Williams v. State of Florida

District Court of Appeal of Florida

Citations: None known
Docket Number: 5D2026-0155
Opinion
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Combined Opinion

FIFTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF FLORIDA

Case No. 5D2026-0155
LT Case No. 60-2019-CF-1503-A

DOUGLAS M. WILLIAMS,

Petitioner,

STATE OF FLORIDA,

Respondent.

Petition for Belated Appeal.
A Case of Original Jurisdiction.

Douglas M. Williams, Chipley, pro se.

James Uthmeier, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Rebecca
Rock McGuigan, Assistant Attorney General, Daytona Beach, for
Respondent.

February 27, 2026

PER CURIAM.

The petition for belated appeal is granted. A copy of this
opinion shall be filed with the trial court and treated as the notice
of appeal from the October 27, 2025 order denying Petitioner’s
petition for writ of habeas corpus rendered in Case No. 60-2019-
CF-1503-A, in the Circuit Court in and for Sumter County, Florida.
See Fla. R. App. P. 9.141(c)(6)(D).
PETITION GRANTED.

EISNAUGLE, SOUD, and KILBANE, JJ., concur.

Not final until disposition of any timely and
authorized motion under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or
9.331.