James E. Downs v. Ricky D. Dixon, Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections
DueProcess
Whether petitioner's 14th Amendment right to equal protection and proportionality of sentence has been violated
QUESTIONS PRESENTED — | , GROUND ONE L.) UNDER THE UNETED STATES CONSTITUTIONS (4) (0), (¢ )e 14 AMENDMENTS) CAN THE CLNEMS BEING PRESENTED HEREIN DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT MANIFEST WSUSTSECCE BE DETERMINED IN THE LOWER AND APPELLATE COURT6), WHEREAS, AN SCIEGALLY IINVALED REASON FOR DEPARTURE FRom THE GUIDELINES! RECOMMENDATION BE UPHELO xN ETS PRovrsxons BASED SOLELY UPon FLORIDA'S HABITUAL OFFENDER STATUTE A STATUTE THAT EXPLICITLY CONFLICTS WITH FLORIDA STATUTE 921-Ool (4)(a), PROMULGATED UNDER FLORA RULES OF ERIMINAL PROCEDURE SENTENCING GUIDELINES 3,701(b)(b) (4)(8) (10),(i), 12), WHEREAS THE LANGUAGE oF FLA. STAT. 921.001(4) (6) THEREIN EXPLICZTLY MD UnamOr CUous LY THAT FLOATOA'S PROVESToWAL SWCTXONS oF 175.084(4)(a)Ci) HABITUAL OFFENDER SvaTuTE IS Nor AVALZD REASON y FOR DEPARTURE FRopn THE QUEDELANES' RECOMMENDATION MERIT REVERSAL AND REMAND FoR RESENTENC-ING 2? See. Sor cevieW! TReaL TRANSCREPT(S) Exhibit(s) (A) “uy instructions, lines (20-22). E«(C) sey Verdict Foren’ Ex.(H) order on motion ¢o Correct Sentence in Compatison te 921.001(4)G) Florida Statute in Comparison to Fx.(3) " sentencing guideline Seoresheet (Reason for departure Proen guidelines’ recommenohfion) ; Ex. ) polling of jury's verd fet of guilt {oe RogBe gy ONLY fas instructed fn Ex:(a) a Laws of Floctda Chapter 75-1Nlo and 75-298 in comparison 40: Burnxek y, STATE, 594 So. al 2b (Fia. 1993.) ; Brown v.STATE, 530 So, ad silFia. 89), Early vi State, 5/4, Se. 2 24 (Fin. 3"* ca 1987) | WHITEHEAD v. STATE, 498 So, 2a Gu (Fle 1986), Ex(s).(D )” Second AMENDED ENFoRWATEON, € £x(s).(B-BI) in Comparison ty Ex.6).(A) uey ins tru— chions and jury's Verdict Cex. (He (H-1)Jond the gurys verdiof in Comparison to STEPHENS v, STATE, @1H So.aal 455 (Fla: App-2d DCA 2008)/ Shavers v, State, Ble Ss 3d 1218 (la. ad DeAaO1L), NETTLES V.STATE (2 8°3d 782(Fla. 1* DCA 2013)" Mek s V. STATE YI So. ad 10as, (Fla. al DCA 962), see qlso'Cappale, 732 So. ad at 334, PCV Vf C ) ; @ Z..) WHETHER OR WoT PereczonER’s (B7H) ANEXDMENT’ UMCYED STATES ConsTxTUTCONAL. RIGHT To A GUARANTEED PRoPoRTONALT-TY oF SENTENCE HAS GEEN VIOLATED Pursuit To 1H **(u.s CONSTITUTEON) AMENDMENTS EQuAL PROTECTION LAW AWD THE PRovrsTonG) of THE AMENDED Laws AND RULES BEING CETED HERE XN. WHEREAS WHEN REASON FOR DEPARTING FROM THE GUIDELINES’ RecommENDATION £6 NOT GIVEN ON 3.988 SENTENCING ScCorESHEET PURSUANT To THE PRovxszows HELD AND IMPLEMENTED UNDER FLOREDA RULES oF CRIM. Proce Dukes 3,70 1(6)(le) (d)(3) (10),(\)) (12), MD FLORIDA STATurE 921-001 (4) (a) To WHECH STATES THEREIN Tir! HABTTUAL. OFFENDER SANCTxaNS CANNOT BE USED AS A REASON To DEPART FROM THE GUIDELINES‘ RECOMMENDRTxon 7 7(6ee* Ex, ( H)"oRDeR WHERE RECORDS REFLECT JUDGE, AT SENTENCING, , BASED AN cAVALID REASON FOR DEPARTING FROM THE GUXDEL<NES’ RECOMMEMDATION. Seo alsa‘ ix. (S) Gs. 498) Taxa “TR SCREPTS j Burdick v. Stee, 594 Sead 267(Fle. 1992), Brown v, Siete, 830 So. ad, 51 (Fla. 1988), Whitehead v. Slate. 498 Se. ad 863(Flo.R8L)* Carly vi Stale S16 So 2d 24 (FIA3™ pon 987), Sentencing guideline Scoresheet Ex,(3)" Note: No REASoA , BY TRIAL CouRT GIVEN on Sentencing Scoreshest (3.988 ) in Comparison to Exhipie (H)=C4-1) afore-mentioned herein Whereas Trial Court Judge ,in His order (Ex.(l)) based! Ms Feason foe departing from the guidelines on fetibioner being sentenced under the Fla. Stotute 775.084 (u)(@)(1)(1993) to which the Florida Supreme Court fell! tat Habitual OFFENDER Sanctlons is an invalid Teagon to depart from the guide lees’ recommendation, see also Florida Stat. ch. 4al.001(4)()'(S)and wool N@)(985)/ WHITFIELD v-STATE, 487 So. ad 1045 (Fla. 86) ' Florida Rules a Celoninal Raceduce 3.701(8)(u), Wl (W)2), see ako: dixoy vy, Stake, £33 Sere 792, (ce ad Dc4 001) Kid (Et 80 3 480) | VEBA V. STATE 9100 Su 2d 572 (Ela 2d DCA 2004): Weaver v State, 957 bo ad at 568-89 (quod ing Delve 575 S0 ad 6431 YS (Fh 1994) pcre ( ) vo ; see also: Whitfield vy, State 487 So ad 104s (Fla. 1186) depactuce from Gem bending gut delines io R