Summary
The Sixth District Court of Appeal of Florida affirmed the circuit court’s disposition in Theodore R. Williams, II’s appeal under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(b)(2). The per curiam decision cited Ratliff v. State regarding the meaning of a sentence of life imprisonment.
Court
Sixth District Court of Appeal of Florida
Writing for the Court
Traver, C.J.; Mize, J.; Pratt, J.
Jurisdiction
Sixth District Court of Appeal of Florida
Decision date
June 5, 2026
Docket number
6D2025-0908
Procedural posture
Appeal under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(b)(2) from the Circuit Court for Polk County.
Precedential value
Published opinion; subject to finality after the rehearing period.
Parties
Theodore R. Williams, II v. State of Florida
Disposition
affirmed
Topics
post-conviction reliefsentencingcriminal procedureappellate procedure
Practice areas
criminal procedurepost-conviction reliefsentencingappellate procedure
Questions Presented
- Whether the lower court's post-conviction disposition should be affirmed in light of the rule that a sentence of life imprisonment requires imprisonment for the remainder of the defendant's life.
Holdings
- A sentence of life imprisonment means that the defendant is to remain in prison for the rest of his life; the term "life" is sufficiently definite to be understood and applied.
Key quotations
“[T]he Legislature, by prescribing a sentence of life imprisonment, intends that the defendant remain in prison for the rest of his life. The term ‘life’ is sufficiently definite so that it can be understood and applied.”
Factual background
The opinion contains no substantive factual discussion. It identifies the appeal as arising from a Polk County criminal case and affirms the lower court's disposition, citing authority concerning the meaning of a life-imprisonment sentence.
Procedural history
Williams appealed from a post-conviction proceeding in the Circuit Court for Polk County. The Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court's disposition.
Court Document
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