Meek v. State

We review Meek v. State, 474 So.2d 340 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985), in order to answer a certified question of great public importance.1 We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const.

Petitioner was convicted of first-degree murder. During its deliberations, the jury asked:

If one person is guilty of premeditated first degree murder and the other person meets all criteria set forth in instruction 3.01, principal, are both guilty of first degree premeditated murder?

Id. at 341. Petitioner was in a nearby restaurant awaiting the verdict but the judge conferred with the prosecutor and defense counsel…