Scott A. Stanley v. Secretary, Florida Department of COrrections

Scott A. Stanley was convicted of aggravated stalking in violation of a court order. See Fla. Stat. § 784.048(4). He appeals from the district court’s denial of his federal habeas petition. We granted a certificate of appealability on two issues, only one of which we need to decide in order to dispose of this appeal. That issue is whether his appellate counsel was ineffective in failing to argue that a jury instruction should have been given regarding Stanley’s knowledge that the court order at issue was in effect when he allegedly committed the offense. Because the parties and the district…