Background
Derrick James Wells, Jr. appealed from a decision of the Circuit Court for Alachua County, where Judge James M. Colaw presided. Wells represented himself on appeal, while the State was represented by the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
The First District’s opinion does not identify the underlying charges, the ruling challenged, the arguments raised, or the relevant facts.
The Court’s Holding
The First District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s decision. Judges Roberts, Bilbrey, and Nordby concurred.
The court issued a per curiam affirmance consisting solely of the word “AFFIRMED.” It provided no reasoning and announced no express rule of law.
Key Takeaways
- The circuit court’s decision remains in place.
- The appellate court did not explain the factual or legal basis for affirmance.
- The opinion was not final until disposition of any timely and authorized motion under Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.
Why It Matters
The decision resolves Wells’s appeal in the State’s favor but offers no written analysis for attorneys or lower courts to apply in other cases. Because the opinion omits the underlying facts and issues, no broader substantive holding can fairly be drawn from it.