Keaton — Second District summarily affirmed denial of postconviction relief

Case
Robert James Keaton, II v. State of Florida
Court
Florida Second District Court of Appeal
Judge
NORTHCUTT (Lawton Chiles, 1997); ROTHSTEIN-YOUAKIM (Rick Scott, 2016)
Date Decided
August 5, 2026
Docket No.
2D2026-1111
Topics
Postconviction Appeal; Summary Affirmance
Source
Read the full opinion

Background

Robert James Keaton, II, proceeding without counsel, appealed from the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, where Judge Philip J. Federico presided.

The appeal proceeded under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(b)(2), which governs certain appeals from summary postconviction proceedings. The appellate opinion does not describe Keaton’s claims, the circuit court’s reasoning, or the underlying criminal case.

The Court’s Holding

In a per curiam decision, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s ruling.

The court provided no written analysis or explanation of its grounds for affirmance. Judges Northcutt, Rothstein-Youakim, and Labrit concurred.

Key Takeaways

  • The Second District left the circuit court’s ruling intact.
  • The decision was issued without an explanatory opinion.
  • The opinion does not identify the issues raised or establish a stated rule of law.

Why It Matters

The decision ends this appeal with the circuit court’s ruling undisturbed. Because the court supplied no reasoning or factual discussion, the opinion offers little guidance beyond the result in Keaton’s case.

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