Ward v. State

The circuit court civilly committed petitioner as a sexually violent predator by order entered on July 23, 2002. Petitioner now seeks a belated appeal of the circuit court’s order pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(c). Because proceedings under the Jimmy Ryce Act are civil in nature, see State v. Mitchell, 848 So.2d 1209 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003), rule 9.141(c) is inapplicable, and this court lacks the authority to grant a belated appeal. See Hollingsworth v. Szczecina, 731 So.2d 790 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999)(holding that the court was without authority to grant a belated appeal in a…