Florida Supreme Court Opinions

Raymond Bright v. State of Florida - Murder Conviction and Death Sentence Appeal

The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed a lower court's denial of Raymond Bright's motion to vacate his death sentence for two brutal murders. Bright appealed his conviction and sentence, also seeking a writ of habeas corpus, but the court denied relief.

Florida Supreme Court Opinion on Death Warrant Appeal

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed a circuit court's order denying post-conviction relief and denied a petition for a writ of habeas corpus and motions for a stay of execution for Billy Leon Kearse. Kearse, who is under a death sentence with an execution date set for March 3, 2026, appealed the denial of his sixth successive motion for post-conviction relief.

Florida Bar Rule Amendments - Chapter 3

The Florida Supreme Court has adopted amendments to Chapter 3 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, as proposed by The Florida Bar. These amendments, effective February 16, 2026, modify rules concerning the Board of Governors, general procedures, and grievance committee actions.

Heath v. State - Appeal of Post-Conviction Relief Denial

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Ronald Palmer Heath's post-conviction relief and habeas corpus petition. His execution is scheduled for February 10, 2026.

Florida Bar Rules Amendment Correction

The Florida Supreme Court has issued a notice of correction for an opinion filed on December 18, 2025, regarding amendments to the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. The correction involves a minor wording change on page 11, subsection (b) Notice to Clients.

Florida Supreme Court Vacates Death Sentence, Upholds Murder Conviction

The Florida Supreme Court vacated Leo Louis Kaczmar, III's death sentence while upholding his murder conviction. The court reversed the grant of penalty-phase relief but affirmed other aspects of the circuit court's order and denied Kaczmar's petition for habeas corpus relief.