Johnson v. State — dismissed habeas petition without explanation

Case
Sterling Alan Johnson v. State of Florida
Court
Florida First District Court of Appeal
Judge
ROBERTS (Charlie Crist, 2007); Ray (Rick Scott, 2011)
Date Decided
August 11, 2026
Docket No.
1D2026-0138
Topics
Habeas Corpus, Appellate Procedure, Summary Dismissal
Source
Read the full opinion

Background

Sterling Alan Johnson filed an original petition for a writ of habeas corpus in Florida’s First District Court of Appeal. The opinion does not describe Johnson’s custody, underlying criminal case, claims, or requested relief.

Johnson was represented by Jim Ballack of Ballack Law Group, PLLC. The State of Florida made no appearance.

The Court’s Holding

In a per curiam decision, the First District dismissed Johnson’s habeas petition. Judges Roberts, Ray, and Long concurred.

The court provided no reasoning and did not state whether the dismissal rested on jurisdiction, procedure, mootness, or the merits. The decision was not final until disposition of any timely and authorized motion under Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.

Key Takeaways

  • The First District dismissed Johnson’s original habeas petition.
  • The court issued only a one-word disposition and gave no basis for the dismissal.
  • The opinion establishes no stated rule concerning Johnson’s claims or habeas relief generally.

Why It Matters

The decision ends this original habeas proceeding at the First District, subject to any timely and authorized post-decision motion. Because the court did not explain its reasoning, the opinion offers no substantive guidance about the petition’s deficiencies or the governing habeas standards.

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