Monday, March 5, 2001
Michael Bernard Bell v. State of Florida

no. 00-318

Duval County


Bell was convicted and sentenced to death for the December 9, 1993, murders of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith as they entered a car outside a liquor lounge in Jacksonville. The Capital Collateral Representative had to quit representing him due to a conflict, and a registry attorney was named. The attorney, saying she lacked sufficient time to file a complete pleading, later filed a motion for postconviction relief that contained issues but no arguments. She failed to meet deadlines for amending the motion. As a result, the State moved for summary dismissal, which the judge granted. Bell appeals.