Bryan Frederick Jennings v. Florida
AdministrativeLaw DueProcess Punishment Immigration
Whether the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments require the law of Hurst v. State to be factored into the analysis of the likelihood of a less severe sentence at a new penalty phase at which the newly discovered evidence is introduced?
QUESTIONS PRESENTED--CAPITAL CASE ; : Context ; Under Florida law, post conviction relief is available when it is shown that: 1) newly discovered evidence exists that was : not previously available despite the defendant’s exercise of due diligence, and 2) it is probable that at a new trial and/or a new penalty phase that if the new evidence is introduced either the result will be an acquittal or at least a less severe sentence.' To decide whether a new trial or resentencing should, be ordered, the reviewing court must look to whether the new \ trial or resentencing, if granted, would probably produce a different outcome. Armstrong v. State, 642 So. 2d 730, 735 (Fla. 1994) (“Only when it appears that, on a new trial, the witness's testimony will change to such an extent as to render probable a different verdict will a new trial be granted.”). When a : resentencing is sought on a newly discovered evidence claim, the : court looks to see whether it is likely that the outcome of a resentencing would produce a less severe sentence, i.e. here, a ; life sentence.? n