COLLATERAL RELIEF AFTER DEATH SENTENCE HAS BEEN IMPOSED AND AFFIRMED ON DIRECT APPEAL

(a) Scope. This rule applies to all postconviction proceedings that commence on issuance of the appellate mandate affirming the death sentence to include all motions and petitions for any type of postconviction or collateral relief brought by a defendant in state custody who has been sentenced to death and whose conviction and death sentence have been affirmed on direct appeal. It applies to all postconviction motions filed on or after January 1, 2015, by defendants who are under sentence of death. Motions pending on that date are governed by the version of this rule in effect immediately prior to that date.

(b) Appointment of Postconviction Counsel.

(1) On the issuance of the mandate affirming a judgment and sentence of death on direct appeal, the Supreme Court of Florida must at the same time issue an order appointing the appropriate office of the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel or directing the trial court to immediately appoint counsel from the Registry of Attorneys maintained by the Justice Administrative Commission. The name of Registry Counsel must be filed with the Supreme Court of Florida.

(2) Within 30 days of the issuance of the mandate, the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel or Registry Counsel must file either a notice of appearance or a motion to withdraw in the trial court. Motions to withdraw filed more than 30 days after the issuance of the mandate must not be entertained unless based on a specific conflict of interest as set forth in section 27.703, Florida Statutes.

(3) Within 15 days after Capital Collateral Regional Counsel or Registry Counsel files a motion to withdraw, the chief judge or assigned judge must rule on the motion and appoint new postconviction counsel if necessary. The appointment of new collateral counsel must be from the Registry of attorneys maintained by the Justice Administrative Commission unless the case is administratively transferred to another Capital Collateral Regional Counsel.

(4) In every capital postconviction case, one lawyer must be designated as lead counsel for the defendant. The lead counsel must be the defendant’s primary lawyer in all state court litigation. No lead counsel is permitted to appear for a limited purpose on behalf of a defendant in a capital postconviction proceeding.

(5) After the filing of a notice of appearance, Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, Registry Counsel, or a private attorney must represent the defendant in the state courts until a judge allows withdrawal or until the sentence is reversed, reduced, or carried out, regardless of whether another attorney represents the defendant in a federal court.

(6) A defendant who has been sentenced to death may not represent himself or herself in a capital postconviction proceeding in state court. The only basis for a defendant who has been sentenced to death to seek to discharge postconviction counsel in state court must be pursuant to statute due to an actual conflict of interest. On a determination of an actual conflict of interest, conflict-free counsel must be appointed pursuant to statute.

(c) Preliminary Procedures.

(1) Judicial Assignment and Responsibilities. Within 30 days of the issuance of mandate affirming a judgment and sentence of death on direct appeal, the chief judge must assign the case to a judge qualified under the Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration to conduct capital proceedings. The assigned judge is responsible for case management to ensure compliance with statutes, rules, and administrative orders that impose processing steps, time deadlines, and reporting requirements for capital postconviction litigation. From the time of assignment, the judge must issue case management orders for every step of the capital postconviction process, including at the conclusion of all hearings and conferences.

(2) Status Conferences. The assigned judge must conduct a status conference not later than 90 days after the judicial assignment, and must hold status conferences at least every 90 days thereafter until the evidentiary hearing has been completed or the motion has been ruled on without a hearing. The attorneys, with leave of the trial court, may appear by communication technology at the status conferences. Requests to appear by communication technology must be liberally granted. Pending motions, disputes involving public records, or any other matters ordered by the court must be heard at the status conferences.

(3) Defendant’s Presence Not Required. The defendant’s presence must not be required at any hearing or conference held under this rule, except at the evidentiary hearing on the merits of any claim and at any hearing involving conflict with or removal of collateral counsel.

(4) Duties of Defense Counsel. Within 45 days of appointment of postconviction counsel, the defendant’s trial counsel must provide to postconviction counsel a copy of the original file including all work product not otherwise subject to a protective order and information pertaining to the defendant’s capital case which was created and obtained during the representation of the defendant. Postconviction counsel must maintain the confidentiality of all confidential information received. Postconviction counsel must bear the costs of any copying. The defendant’s trial counsel must retain the defendant’s original file.

(5) Record on Direct Appeal. The Clerk of the Circuit Court must retain a copy of the record for the direct appeal when the record is transmitted to the Supreme Court of Florida. The Clerk of the Supreme Court of Florida must promptly deliver the record on appeal to the records repository within 30 days after the appointment of postconviction counsel.

(d) Time Limitation.

(1) Any motion to vacate judgment of conviction and sentence of death must be filed by the defendant within 1 year after the judgment and sentence become final. For the purposes of this rule, a judgment is final:

(A) on the expiration of the time permitted to file in the United States Supreme Court a petition for writ of certiorari seeking review of the Supreme Court of Florida decision affirming a judgment and sentence of death (90 days after the opinion becomes final); or

(B) on the disposition of the petition for writ of certiorari by the United States Supreme Court, if filed.

(2) No motion may be filed or considered under this rule if filed beyond the time limitation provided in subdivision (d)(1) unless it alleges:

(A) the facts on which the claim is predicated were unknown to the movant or the movant’s attorney and could not have been ascertained by the exercise of due diligence, or

(B) the fundamental constitutional right asserted was not established within the period provided for in subdivision

(d)(1) and has been held to apply retroactively, or

(C) postconviction counsel, through neglect, failed to file the motion.

(3) All petitions for extraordinary relief in which the Supreme Court of Florida has original jurisdiction, including petitions for writs of habeas corpus, must be filed simultaneously with the initial brief filed on behalf of the death-sentenced defendant in the appeal of the circuit court’s order on the initial motion for postconviction relief filed under this rule.

(4) If the governor signs a death warrant before the expiration of the time limitation in subdivision (d)(1), the Supreme Court of Florida, on a defendant’s request, will grant a stay of execution to allow any postconviction relief motions to proceed in a timely and orderly manner.

(5) An extension of time may be granted by the Supreme Court of Florida for the filing of postconviction pleadings if the defendant’s counsel makes a showing that due to exceptional circumstances, counsel was unable to file the postconviction pleadings within the 1–year period established by this rule.

(e) Contents of Motion.

(1) Initial Motion. A motion filed under this rule is an initial postconviction motion if no state court has previously ruled on a postconviction motion challenging the same judgment and sentence. An initial motion and memorandum of law filed under this rule must not exceed 75 pages exclusive of the attachments. Each claim or subclaim must be separately pled and sequentially numbered beginning with claim number 1. If on motion or on the court’s own motion, a judge determines that this portion of the rule has not been followed, the judge must give the movant 30 days to amend. If no amended motion is filed, the judge must deem the non-compliant claim, subclaim, and/or argument waived. Attachments must include, but are not limited to, the judgment and sentence. The memorandum of law must set forth the applicable case law supporting the granting of relief as to each separately pled claim. This rule does not authorize relief based on claims that could have or should have been raised at trial and, if properly preserved, on direct appeal of the judgment and sentence. If claims that were raised on appeal or should have or could have been raised on appeal are contained in the motion, the memorandum of law must contain a brief statement explaining why these claims are being raised on postconviction relief. The motion need not be under oath or signed by the defendant but must include:

(A) a description of the judgment and sentence under attack and the court that rendered the same;

(B) a statement of each issue raised on appeal and the disposition thereof;

(C) the nature of the relief sought;

(D) a detailed allegation of the factual basis for any claim for which an evidentiary hearing is sought;

(E) a detailed allegation as to the basis for any purely legal or constitutional claim for which an evidentiary hearing is not required and the reason that this claim could not have been or was not raised on direct appeal; and

(F) a certification from the attorney that he or she has discussed the contents of the motion fully with the defendant, that he or she has complied with Rule 4-1.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, and that the motion is filed in good faith.

(2) Successive Motion. A motion filed under this rule is successive if a state court has previously ruled on a postconviction motion challenging the same judgment and sentence. A claim raised in a successive motion must be dismissed if the trial court finds that it fails to allege new or different grounds for relief and the prior determination was on the merits; or, if new and different grounds are alleged, the trial court finds that the failure to assert those grounds in a prior motion constituted an abuse of the procedure; or, if the trial court finds there was no good cause for failing to assert those grounds in a prior motion; or, if the trial court finds the claim fails to meet the time limitation exceptions set forth in subdivision (d)(2)(A), (d)(2)(B), or (d)(2)(C). A successive motion must not exceed 25 pages, exclusive of attachments, and must include:

(A) all of the pleading requirements of an initial motion under subdivision (e)(1);

(B) the disposition of all previous claims raised in postconviction proceedings and the reason or reasons the claim or claims raised in the present motion were not raised in the former motion or motions;

(C) if based on newly discovered evidence, Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), or Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972), the following:

(i) the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all witnesses supporting the claim;

(ii) a statement that the witness will be available, should an evidentiary hearing be scheduled, to testify under oath to the facts alleged in the motion or affidavit;

(iii) if evidentiary support is in the form of documents, copies of all documents shall be attached, including any affidavits obtained; and

(iv) as to any witness or document listed in the motion or attachment to the motion, a statement of the reason why the witness or document was not previously available.

(f) Procedure; Evidentiary Hearing; Disposition.

(1) Filing and Service. All pleadings in the postconviction proceeding must be filed with the clerk of the trial court and served on the assigned judge, opposing party, and the attorney general. All motions other than the postconviction motion itself must be accompanied by a notice of hearing.

(2) Duty of Clerk. The clerk must immediately notify the chief judge or the assigned judge of a motion filed under this rule.

(3) Answer.

(A) Answer to the Initial Motion. Within 60 days of the filing of an initial motion, the state must file its answer. The answer and accompanying memorandum of law must not exceed 75 pages, exclusive of attachments and exhibits. The answer must address the legal insufficiency of any claim in the motion, respond to the allegations of the motion, and address any procedural bars. The answer must use the same claim numbering system contained in the defendant’s initial motion. As to any claims of legal insufficiency or procedural bar, the state must include a short statement of any applicable case law.

(B) Answer to a Successive Motion. Within 20 days of the filing of a successive motion, the state must file its answer. The answer must not exceed 25 pages, exclusive of attachments and exhibits. The answer must use the same claim numbering system contained in the defendant’s motion. The answer must specifically respond to each claim in the motion and state the reason(s) that an evidentiary hearing is or is not required.

(4) Amendments. A motion filed under this rule may not be amended unless good cause is shown. A copy of the claim sought to be added must be attached to the motion to amend. The trial court may in its discretion grant a motion to amend provided that the motion to amend was filed at least 45 days before the scheduled evidentiary hearing. Granting a motion under this subdivision must not be a basis for granting a continuance of the evidentiary hearing unless a manifest injustice would occur if a continuance was not granted. If amendment is allowed, the state must file an amended answer within 20 days after the judge allows the motion to be amended.

(5) Case Management Conference; Evidentiary Hearing.

(A) Initial Postconviction Motion. No later than 90 days after the state files its answer to an initial motion, the trial court must hold a case management conference. At the case management conference, the defendant must disclose all documentary exhibits that he or she intends to offer at the evidentiary hearing and must file and serve an exhibit list of all such exhibits and a witness list with the names and addresses of any potential witnesses. All expert witnesses must be specifically designated on the witness list and copies of all expert reports must be attached. Within 60 days after the case management conference, the state must disclose all documentary exhibits that it intends to offer at the evidentiary hearing and must file and serve an exhibit list of all such exhibits and a witness list with the names and addresses of any potential witnesses. All expert witnesses must be specifically designated on the witness list and copies of all expert reports must be attached. At the case management conference, the trial court must:

(i) schedule an evidentiary hearing, to be held within 150 days, on claims listed by the defendant as requiring a factual determination;

(ii) hear argument on any purely legal claims not based on disputed facts; and

(iii) resolve disputes arising from the exchange of information under this subdivision.

(B) Successive Postconviction Motion. Within 30 days after the state files its answer to a successive motion for postconviction relief, the trial court must hold a case management conference. At the case management conference, the trial court also must determine whether an evidentiary hearing should be held and hear argument on any purely legal claims not based on disputed facts. If the motion, files, and records in the case conclusively show that the movant is entitled to no relief, the motion may be denied without an evidentiary hearing. If the trial court determines that an evidentiary hearing should be held, the court must schedule the hearing to be held within 90 days. If a death warrant has been signed, the trial court must expedite these time periods in accordance with subdivision (h) of this rule.

(C) Extension of Time to Hold Evidentiary Hearing. The trial court also may for good cause extend the time for holding an evidentiary hearing for up to 90 days.

(D) Taking Testimony. On motion, or on its own motion and without the consent of any party, the court may permit a witness to testify at the evidentiary hearing by contemporaneous audio-video communication technology that makes the witness visible to all parties during the testimony. There must be appropriate safeguards for the court to maintain sufficient control over the equipment and the transmission of the testimony so the court may stop the communication to accommodate objections or prevent prejudice. If testimony is taken through audio- video communication technology, the oath must be administered in the manner provided by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530(b)(2)(B). The cost for the use of audio-video communication technology is the responsibility of either the requesting party or, if on its own motion, the court.

(E) Procedures After Evidentiary Hearing. Immediately following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court must order a transcript of the hearing, which must be filed within 10 days if real-time transcription was utilized, or within 45 days if real-time transcription was not utilized. The trial judge may permit written closing arguments instead of oral closing arguments. If the trial court permits the parties to submit written closing arguments, the arguments must be filed by both parties within 30 days of the filing of the transcript of the hearing. No answer or reply arguments are allowed. Written arguments must be in compliance with the requirements for briefs in rule 9.210(a)(1) and (a)(2), must not exceed 60 pages without leave of court, and must include proposed findings of facts and conclusions of law, with citations to authority and to appropriate portions of the transcript of the hearing.

(F) Rendition of the Order. If the court does not permit written closing arguments, the court must render its order within 30 days of the filing of the transcript of the hearing. If the court permits written closing arguments, the court must render its order within 30 days of the filing of the last written closing argument and no later than 60 days from the filing of the transcript of the hearing. The court must rule on each claim considered at the evidentiary hearing and all other claims raised in the motion, making detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to each claim, and attaching or referencing such portions of the record as are necessary to allow for meaningful appellate review. The order issued after the evidentiary hearing must resolve all the claims raised in the motion and must be considered the final order for purposes of appeal. The clerk of the trial court must promptly serve on the parties and the attorney general a copy of the final order, with a certificate of service.

(6) Experts and Other Witnesses. All expert witnesses who will testify at the evidentiary hearing must submit written reports, which must be disclosed to opposing counsel as provided in subdivision (f)(5)(A). If the defendant intends to offer expert testimony of his or her mental status, the state must be entitled to have the defendant examined by its own mental health expert. If the defendant fails to cooperate with the state’s expert, the trial court may, in its discretion, proceed as provided in rule 3.202(e).

(7) Rehearing. Motions for rehearing must be filed within 15 days of the rendition of the trial court’s order and a response thereto filed within 10 days thereafter. A motion for rehearing must be based on a good faith belief that the court has overlooked a previously argued issue of fact or law or an argument based on a legal precedent or statute not available prior to the court’s ruling. The trial court’s order disposing of the motion for rehearing must be rendered not later than 30 days from the filing of the motion for rehearing. If no order is filed within 30 days from the filing of the motion for rehearing, the motion is deemed denied. A motion for rehearing is not required to preserve any issue for review.

(8) Appeals. Any party may appeal a final order entered on a defendant’s motion for rule 3.851 relief by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the lower tribunal within 30 days of the rendition of the order to be reviewed. Under the procedures outlined in Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.142, a defendant under sentence of death may petition for a belated appeal.

(g) Incompetence to Proceed in Capital Collateral Proceedings.

(1) A death-sentenced defendant pursuing collateral relief under this rule who is found by the court to be mentally incompetent must not be proceeded against if there are factual matters at issue, the development or resolution of which require the defendant’s input. However, all collateral relief issues that involve only matters of record and claims that do not require the defendant’s input must proceed in collateral proceedings notwithstanding the defendant’s incompetency.

(2) Collateral counsel may file a motion for competency determination and an accompanying certificate of counsel that the motion is made in good faith and on reasonable grounds to believe that the death-sentenced defendant is incompetent to proceed.

(3) If, at any stage of a postconviction proceeding, the court determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a death-sentenced defendant is incompetent to proceed and that factual matters are at issue, the development or resolution of which require the defendant’s input, a judicial determination of incompetency is required.

(4) The motion for competency examination must be in writing and allege with specificity the factual matters at issue and the reason that competent consultation with the defendant is necessary with respect to each factual matter specified. To the extent that it does not invade the lawyer-client privilege with collateral counsel, the motion must contain a recital of the specific observations of, and conversations with, the death-sentenced defendant that have formed the basis of the motion.

(5) If the court finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a death-sentenced defendant is incompetent to proceed in a postconviction proceeding in which factual matters are at issue, the development or resolution of which require the defendant’s input, the court must order the defendant examined by no more than 3, nor fewer than 2, experts before setting the matter for a hearing. The court may seek input from the death-sentenced defendant’s counsel and the state attorney before appointment of the experts.

(6) The order appointing experts must:

(A) identify the purpose of the evaluation and specify the area of inquiry that should be addressed;

(B) specify the legal criteria to be applied; and

(C) specify the date by which the report must be submitted and to whom it must be submitted.

(7) Counsel for both the death-sentenced defendant and the state may be present at the examination, which must be conducted at a date and time convenient for all parties and the Department of Corrections.

(8) On appointment by the court, the experts must examine the death-sentenced defendant with respect to the issue of competence to proceed, as specified by the court in its order appointing the experts to evaluate the defendant, and must evaluate the defendant as ordered.

(A) The experts first must consider factors related to the issue of whether the death-sentenced defendant meets the criteria for competence to proceed, that is, whether the defendant has sufficient present ability to consult with counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding and whether the defendant has a rational as well as factual understanding of the pending collateral proceedings.

(B) In considering the issue of competence to proceed, the experts must consider and include in their report:

(i) the defendant’s capacity to understand the adversary nature of the legal process and the collateral proceedings;

(ii) the defendant’s ability to disclose to collateral counsel facts pertinent to the postconviction proceeding at issue; and

(iii) any other factors considered relevant by the experts and the court as specified in the order appointing the experts.

(C) Any written report submitted by an expert must:

(i) identify the specific matters referred for evaluation;

(ii) describe the evaluative procedures, techniques, and tests used in the examination and the purpose or purposes for each;

(iii) state the expert’s clinical observations, findings, and opinions on each issue referred by the court for evaluation, and indicate specifically those issues, if any, on which the expert could not give an opinion; and

(iv) identify the sources of information used by the expert and present the factual basis for the expert’s clinical findings and opinions.

(9) If the experts find that the death-sentenced defendant is incompetent to proceed, the experts must report on any recommended treatment for the defendant to attain competence to proceed. In considering the issues relating to treatment, the experts must report on:

(A) the mental illness or intellectual disability causing the incompetence;

(B) the treatment or treatments appropriate for the mental illness or intellectual disability of the defendant and an explanation of each of the possible treatment alternatives in order of choices; and

(C) the likelihood of the defendant attaining competence under the treatment recommended, an assessment of the probable duration of the treatment required to restore competence, and the probability that the defendant will attain competence to proceed in the foreseeable future.

(10) Within 30 days after the experts have completed their examinations of the death-sentenced defendant, the court must schedule a hearing on the issue of the defendant’s competence to proceed.

(11) If, after a hearing, the court finds the defendant competent to proceed, or, after having found the defendant incompetent, finds that competency has been restored, the court must enter its order so finding and proceed with a postconviction motion. The defendant must have 60 days to amend his or her rule 3.851 motion only as to those issues that the court found required factual consultation with counsel.

(12) If the court does not find the defendant incompetent, the order must contain:

(A) findings of fact relating to the issues of competency;

(B) copies of the reports of the examining experts; and

(C) copies of any other psychiatric, psychological, or social work reports submitted to the court relative to the mental state of the death-sentenced defendant.

(13) If the court finds the defendant incompetent or finds the defendant competent subject to the continuation of appropriate treatment, the court must follow the procedures set forth in rule 3.212(c), except that, to the extent practicable, any treatment must take place at a custodial facility under the direct supervision of the Department of Corrections.

(h) After Death Warrant Signed.

(1) Judicial Assignment. The chief judge of the circuit must assign the case to a judge qualified under the Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration to conduct capital cases as soon as notification of the death warrant is received.

(2) Calendar Advancement. Proceedings after a death warrant has been issued must take precedence over all other cases. The assigned judge must make every effort to resolve scheduling conflicts with other cases including cancellation or rescheduling of hearings or trials and requesting senior judge assistance.

(3) Schedule of Proceedings. The time limitations in this rule do not apply after a death warrant has been signed. All motions must be heard expeditiously considering the time limitations set by the date of execution and the time required for appellate review.

(4) Location of Hearings. The location of hearings after a death warrant is signed must be determined by the trial judge considering the availability of witnesses or evidence, the security problems involved in the case, and any other factor determined by the trial court.

(5) Postconviction Motions. All motions filed after a death warrant is issued must be considered successive motions and subject to the content requirement of subdivision (e)(2) of this rule.

(6) Case Management Conference. The assigned judge must schedule a case management conference as soon as reasonably possible after receiving notification that a death warrant has been signed. During the case management conference the court must set a time for filing a postconviction motion and must schedule a hearing to determine whether an evidentiary hearing should be held and hear argument on any purely legal claims not based on disputed facts. If the motion, files, and records in the case conclusively show that the movant is entitled to no relief, the motion may be denied without an evidentiary hearing. If the trial court determines that an evidentiary hearing should be held, the court must schedule the hearing to be held as soon as reasonably possible considering the time limitations set by the date of execution and the time required for appellate review.

(7) Reporting. The assigned judge must require the proceedings conducted under death warrant to be reported using the most advanced and accurate technology available in general use at the location of the hearing. The proceedings must be transcribed expeditiously considering the time limitations set by the execution date.

(8) Procedures After Hearing. The court must obtain a transcript of all proceedings and render its order as soon as possible after the hearing is concluded. A copy of the final order must be electronically transmitted to the Supreme Court of Florida and to the attorneys of record.

(9) Transmittal of Record. The record must be immediately delivered to the clerk of the Supreme Court of Florida by the clerk of the trial court or as ordered by the assigned judge. The record must also be electronically transmitted if the technology is available. A notice of appeal is not required to transmit the record.

(i) Dismissal of Postconviction Proceedings.

(1) This subdivision applies only when a defendant seeks to dismiss pending postconviction proceedings.

(2) If the defendant files the motion pro se, the Clerk of the Court must serve copies of the motion on counsel of record for both the defendant and the state. Counsel of record may file responses within 10 days.

(3) The trial judge must review the motion and the responses and schedule a hearing. The defendant, collateral counsel, and the state must be present at the hearing.

(4) The judge must examine the defendant at the hearing and hear argument of the defendant, collateral counsel, and the state. No fewer than 2 or more than 3 qualified experts must be appointed to examine the defendant if the judge concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe the defendant is not mentally competent for purposes of this rule. The experts must file reports with the court setting forth their findings. Thereafter, the court must conduct an evidentiary hearing and enter an order setting forth findings of competency or incompetency.

(5) If the defendant is found to be incompetent for purposes of this rule, the court must deny the motion without prejudice.

(6) If the defendant is found to be competent for purposes of this rule, the court must conduct a complete inquiry to determine whether the defendant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily wants to dismiss pending postconviction proceedings. The colloquy must also address whether the defendant wants to waive appellate review of the dismissal of postconviction proceedings, if granted.

(7) If the court determines that the defendant has made the decision to dismiss pending postconviction proceedings knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily, the court must enter an order dismissing all pending postconviction proceedings. The order must also indicate whether appellate review has been waived.

(8) If the court determines that the defendant has not made the decision to dismiss pending postconviction proceedings knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily, the court must enter an order denying the motion without prejudice.

(9) If the court grants the motion and appellate review is not waived:

(A) a copy of the motion, the order, and the transcript of the hearing or hearings conducted on the motion must be forwarded to the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Florida within 30 days; and

(B) collateral counsel must, within 10 days after issuance of the order, file with the clerk of the circuit court 2 copies of a notice seeking review in the Supreme Court of Florida, and must, within 20 days after the filing of the transcript, serve an initial brief. The state may serve a responsive brief. Briefs must be served as prescribed by rule 9.210.

(10) If the court denies the motion, the defendant may seek review as prescribed by Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.142(c).

(11) For cases where counsel was discharged before May 5, 2022, collateral counsel eligible under rule 3.112 must be appointed.

(j) Attorney General Notification to Clerk. The Office of the Attorney General must notify the clerk of the supreme court when it believes the defendant has completed his or her direct appeal, initial postconviction proceeding in state court, and habeas corpus proceeding and appeal therefrom in federal court. The Office of the Attorney General must serve a copy of the notification on defendant’s counsel of record.