N O

. PD 1671-15
I N THE C OURT OF C RIMINAL A PPEALS O F THE S TATE OF T EXAS

C ARLTON C HARLES P ENRIGHT ,

Appellant

v
. T HE S TATE OF T EXAS Appellee

On Petition for Discretionary Review from the First Court of Appeals in No 01-12-00647-CR, Cause Number 1247950 from the 174th District Court of Harris County, Texas

B RIEF FOR A

PPELLANT

Oral Argument Not Requested A LEXANDER B UNIN Chief Public Defender Harris County, Texas J ANI M ASELLI W OOD Assistant Public Defender Harris County, Texas TBN. 00791195 1201 Franklin Street, 13th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Phone: (713) 368-0016 Fax: (713) 368-9278 Counsel for Appellant Carlton Charles Penright PD-1671-15

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 6/10/2016 8:39:36 AM Accepted 6/10/2016 11:30:27 AM

ABEL ACOSTA CLERKI D E N T I T Y O F P A R

T I E S A N D C O U N SE L
Appe llant: Carlton Charle s P e nright T D CJ- ID # 0 1 8 1 1 7 2 2 G urne y U nit 1 3 8 5 F M 3 3 2 8 T e nne s s e e Colony , T X 7 5 8 0 3
T rial P ros e c utor: Mr. E d Mc Cle e s Appe llate P ros e c u tor Ms

. Je s s ic a Ak ins As s is tant D is tric t Attorne y s H arris County , T e x a s 1 2 0 1 F rank

lin, 6 th F loor H ous ton, T e x as 7 7 0 0 2

D e f e n s e Couns e l at T rial: Ste v e n G re e nle e 4 3 0 3 Whippoorw

ill Circ le Mis s ouri City , T e x as 7 7 4 5 9

- 2 9 7 7

P re s iding Judge : H on. Rube n G ue rre ro 1 7 4 th D is t ric t Court H arris County , T e x a s 1 2 0 1 F rank

lin, 1 9 th f loor H ous ton, T e x as 7 7 0 0 2

D e f e n s e Couns e l on Appe al: Jani Mas e lli Wood As s is tant P ublic D e f

e nde r H arris County , T e x a s 1 2 0 1 F rank

lin, 1 3 th F loor H ous ton, T e x as 7 7 0 0 2

-2-TA BLE OF CONTE NTS

Ide n tity of P artie s and Couns e l.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
T able of Conte nts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Inde x of Authoritie s
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
State m e nt of

the Cas e
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
State m e nt of

the P roc e d u ral H is tory

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Is s ue G rante d.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

G round One : T h e C ourt of A pp e a l s’ d e c is ion that t h e c ons olidate d
c ourt c os t w as c ons titutional fa i l ed to e x plain h ow the c om pre he ns iv e re habilitation f

e e is a le gitim ate c rim inal jus t ic e purpos e State m e nt of

F ac ts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Sum m a ry of the Argum e nt.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Argum e nt.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0
T he Com p re he ns iv e Re habilitation F e e s tatute is inv alid on its f ac e
. . . . . . . . . 1 1
T he re is no authority

or re as oning f

or w hy the Com p re he ns iv e Re habilitation F e e is a le gitim ate c o urt c os t.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1

U nlik e the D N A re c ord f

e e , the Com pre he ns iv e Re habilitation F e e doe s not inv olv e le gitim ate c rim inal jus tic e purpos e s
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3
Clas s C tic k e ts to Capital Murde r c onv ic tions pay

this f e e
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4

E ac h indiv

idual c os t unde r the c ons olidate d c ourt c os t s t atute m us t be analy ze d.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5
T he f orm e r f a m ily prote c tion f

e e - partly c o ns t itutional and partly

not.

. . . . . . 1 6
A s tatute that is unc ons t

itutional in part is an unc ons titutional s tatute . . . . . . . 1 7

-3-Change s in T e x as w ith c ourt c o s t s and poor pe o ple

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9

P ray e r.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0

Ce rtif ic ate of Se rv ic e
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1

Ce rtif ic ate of Com plianc e
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2

-4-I N D E X O F A U T H O R I T I E S
Cas e s : Penrig h t v. State , 0 1

- 1 2

- 0 0 6 4 7

- C R, 2 0 1 5 WL 5 7 7 0 0 0 6 (T e x . App.

— H ous ton [ 1 s t D is t. ] Se pt. 2 9 , 2 0 1 5 , no. pe t. h. ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Peraz a v. State , 4 6 7 S. W. 3 d 5 0 8 (T e x . Crim

. App. 2 0 1 5 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pas s im
Sal as v. State , 3 6 5 S. W

. 2 d 1 7 4 (T e x . Crim

. App. 1 9 6 3 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6
Sal inas v. State , 4 2 6 S. W. 3 d 3 1 8 , 3 3 3 (T e x . App.

— H ous ton [ 1 4 th D is t. ] 2 0 1 4 ), rev’ d , 4 6 4 S. W. 3 d 3 6 3 (T e x . Crim

. App. 2 0 1 5 )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 , 1 6 Tussey v. State , 4 9 4 S. W. 2 d 8 6 6 , 8 7 0 (T e x . Crim

. App. 1 9 7 3 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

-5-St at ut e s , Rule s , Opinio ns , and M is c e llane o us

T EX

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 5 1

. 9 6 1 (We s t 2 0 1 3 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 , 1 7 , 1 8 T EX

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 3 1 1

. 0 3 2 © (We s t 2 0 0 5 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 T E X

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 5 0 1

. 0 1 4 (e )(4 )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 T EX

. H U M

. R E S

. C O D E A N N

. § 1 1 1

. 0 5 2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 , 1 3 T EX

. H U M

. R E S

. C O D E A N N

. § 1 1 1

. 0 6 0

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 T EX

. H U M

. R E S

. C O D E A N N

. § 1 1 5

. 0 0 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 T EX

. L O C

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 1 3 3

. 1 0 2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 , 1 4 , 1 6 T E X

. P E N A L C O D E A N N

. § 2 2

. 0 1 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 T EX

. A TT ' Y G EN

. O P

. N O

. G A- 0 3 8 7 (2 0 0 5 ) .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 , 1 7

T e s tim ony

of Vik rant P

. Re ddy , Se nior Re s e arc h F e llow , Charle s Koc h Ins titute

. B e f ore the U nite d State s Com m is s ion on Civ il Rights B rie f

ing: Munic ipal P olic ing and Courts : A Se arc h f or Jus tic e or a Q ue s t f

o r Re v e nue
. . . . . . . . . . 1 0

G e orge Mas on, F airf ax County F re e holde rs ’ Addre s s and Ins truc tions to T h e ir G e ne ral As s e m bly D e le gate s (May

3 0 , 1 7 8 3 ), in

Je f f B roadw ate r, G E O R G E M A S O N : F O R G O TT E N F O U N D E R 1 5 3 (2 0 0 6 ) .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0

Ke ndall T aggart & Ale x Cam pbe ll, Th eir Crime:

B eing Poor. Th eir Sentenc

e: J a il

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 , 1 6

-6-S T A T E M E N T O F T H E C A S E

T his is an ap p e a l f

rom the f e lony of f e ns e of s e x ual a s s ault. (C. R. at 1 7 0 ). See
T E X

. P E N A L C O D E A N N

. § 2 2

. 0 1 1

. Af te r a trial b y jury , Mr. P e nright w as c onv ic te d
and t h e jury as s e s s e d pu n i s h me n t at 1 5 y e ars c onf ine m e nt in t he T e x as D e partm e nt of
Crim inal Jus tic e

- I ns titutional D iv is ion. (C. R. at 1 7 0 ). T he judgm e n t wa s d a t e d J u ne 2 8 , 2 0 1 2

. (C. R. at 1 7 0 ). T im e ly notic e of appe al w as f

ile d

. (C. R. at 1 7 7 ).
A m otion in arre s t o f judgm e nt and a m o tion f or ne w tr i a l we r e f

ile d on July
2 5 , 2 0 1 2

. (

II C. R. at 2 0 1 , 2 7 3 ). T he m ot ions w e re s e t f or a he aring to be he ld on A u g us t 3 1 , 2 0 1 2

. (II C. R. a t 3 5 6 ). F our s ubpoe nas f o r w itne s s e s w e re is s ue d f

or th a t date

. (II C. R. at 311- 2 8 ). T h e c ourt notif ie d c ouns e l the y w e re “c los e d” that day a nd

re s e t the he aring t o Se pte m b e r 7 , 2 0 1 2

. (II C. R. at 3 7 1 ). T he s am e w itne s s e s w e re again pl a c e d u n d er s ubpoe na. ( II C. R. at 3 3 1

- 4 9 ). T he c ourt had a c a pital jury to pic k

on Se pte m b e r 7, 201 2 and c hos e to re s e t t he he a ring to Se pte m b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 2 , outs ide
of the 7 5 th day

. (II C. R. at 3 7 1 )

. T he 7 5 th d ay a ft e r the judgm e nt w as Se pte m be r 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 , s o no he aring w as able to be he ld.

S T A TE M E N T O F T H E P RO C E D U R A L H I S T O R

Y
On Oc tobe r 2 1 , 2 0 1 3, the Court of Appe als abate d this c a us e and re m ande d it
f or a he aring on the m otion f or ne w trial

. Th e he a r i ng w as he ld and the c as e

re ins tate d on Marc h 7 , 2 0 1 4

. In a n unpublis he d opinion, the F irs t C ourt o f Appe a ls
af f irm e d Mr. P e nright’ s c onv ic tion. Penrig

h t v. S tate , 01- 12- 0 0 6 4 7

- CR, 2 0 1 5 WL
5 7 7 0 0 0 6 (T e x . App.

— H ous ton [ 1 s t D is t. ] Se pt. 2 9 , 2 0 1 5 , no p e t. )

. A t i m e ly m otion
f or re c ons ide ration en banc w as f ile d on Oc tobe r 1 9 , 2 0 1 5

. T he State w a s ord e r e d to

-7-re s pond and did s o o n N ov e m be r 1 0 , 2015. T he m otion w as de n ie d on D e c e m be r 8 ,

2 0 1 5 , w ith Jus tic e J e n n i n gs d is s e nting. T he p e tition f or dis c re tionary re v

ie w w as f ile d

on F e bruary 8 , 2 0 1 6

. Af te r an e x te n s ion of tim e , t h i s b r i e f is tim e ly if f ile d on or be f ore June 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

.

A P P E L L A N T ’ S G R

A N T E D I S S U E : Ground One : T he Court of Appe als ’ de c is ion that the c o n s o l i d a t ed
c ourt c os t w as c ons titutional f aile d to e x plain how the c om p r e h e n s iv e re habilitation f

e e is a le gitim ate c rim inal jus t ic e purpos e
.

S T A T E M E N T O F F A C T S
Mr. P e nright w as o r d e r e d t o pay c ourt c os ts originally totaling $5 3 4 inc luding the $1 3 3 c ons olidate d c ourt c os t. (C. R. at 1 7 0 )

. O nl y a ft er t he c os t bill w as re que s t e d and the JIMS page s f

ile d, w a s an e rror in the amo u n t of c ourt c os ts dis c ov e re d a nd

s urre ptitious ly c orre c t e d

. (II C. R. at 2 2 1 , 2 5 7 ). T he la t e r v e rs ion de le te d one of the She rif f ’ s f e e s and had a ne

w page one s ubtotal of

$6 0

. 0 0

. B oth c os ts bills c harge d M r. P e n r i g ht f or the $1 3 3 c ons olidate d c ourt c os t. ( II C. R. at 2 2 2 , 2 5 8 ). Mr. P e nright f

ile d a m otion in arre s t of judgm e nt and a mo t i o n fo r ne w trial

c halle nging the c ons titutionality of the c ons olidate d c ourt c os t.

-8-S U M M A R Y O F T H E A R G U M E N T T he Com pre h e ns i ve Re h abilitation f e e is an unc ons titutional tax

. It has no le gitim a te c rim inal jus tic e purpos e and s hould b e s t r u c k. A broade r que s tion be c om e s

w hat t o do w

ith the C ons olidate d Court C os t

. T his Court c an s tr i ke the

u n c o ns titutional portion

- w hic h unde rm ine s the e n tire ty of the c ons olidate d c ourt

c os t s tatute

. T his Court c ould try and e x c is e the u nc o ns t itutional p o r t i on and le av e the o t h e r c ons titutional portions in plac e - but this option is m os t lik e ly unw ork able

.

-9-A R G U M E N T

Gr o un d O ne : T he Court of Appe als ’ de c is ion that t he c ons olida t ed
c o u r t c os t w a s c ons t

itutional f aile d to e x plain how the c o m pre he ns ive re habilitation f

e e is a le gitim ate c rim inal jus t ic e purpos e
.

“T he tim e s the y

are a- c hangin’

. ” 1
– B o b D y lan

. . . a c onf lic t of i n t e r e s t e x is ts am ong the polic e of f ic e rs , judge s , c om m unity s upe rv

is ion of f ic e rs , e tc

. w ho are re s pons ible f or e x e c uting the f unc tions o f the c rim inal jus tic e s y s te m
. As the f o undi n g fa t he r Ge o r g e Mas o n obs e rv e d, “Whe n the s am e m an, or s e t o f m e n, holds both the s w ord and the

purs e , the re is an e n d of

libe rty

. ” 2

. . . t h e r e l i a n c e o n c rim inal jus tic e f e e s and f ine s to f und a g ov e rnm e nt’ s bas ic s e rv ic e s is c ounte r- produc tiv e
. Suc h p rac tic e s are unac c ountable and opaque , and the y

introduc e dre adf

u l inc e ntiv e s f

o r abus e
. 3
Rais i n g r e v e nue
. . . has ne v e r be e n c ons ide re d a le gitim ate purpos e o f the
c rim i n a l j u s tic e s y s te m , and y e t, o v e r the las t f e w de c ade s , c rim inal jus tic e f e e s a nd f ine s hav e in f

ac t be c om e a m ajor m e c h anis m f or rais ing
s tate and loc al re v e nue
. 4

– Charle s Koc h Ins titute Se nior F e llow Vik rant P

. Re ddy

1 https : //w

w w . y outube

. c om /w a tc h? v = e 7 q Q 6 _RV4 VQ

2 T e s tim ony of Vik rant P

. Re ddy , Se nior Re s e arc h F e llow , C harle s Koc h Ins titute

. B e f ore the U nite d State s Com m is s ion on Civ il Rights f or the Ma r c h 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 B rie f ing: Munic ipal P olic ing and C ourts : A Se arc h f or Jus t ic e o r a Q ue s t f

or Re v e nue , c

iting G e orge Mas on, F airf

ax C ounty F re e holde rs ’ Addre s s and Ins truc tions to T he ir G e ne ral As s e m bly D e le gate s (May 3 0 , 1 7 8 3 ), in Je f f B roadw ate r, G E O R G E M A S O N : F O R G O T TE N F O U N D E R 1 5 3 (2 0 0 6 ). h t t p s : / / s ec u r i s y n c
. i n t e r me d i a
. n e t/We b/# /s ? public _s hare = k Y Wfwh h UK 2K P_ i p 3l 6z A a b & i d =Lz I wM TY g UG F z d C BC c ml l Z ml u Z 3M vM y 0x O C 0x Ni BNd W5j a X Bh b C BQ b2 x pY 2 luZ y

B hbm Q gQ 2 9 1 c nRzL 1 B hbm Vs ID E v V m l r c m F u d C B S Z WRk e Q % 3 D % 3 D

3 I d.

4 I d. -10-The Co m pre he ns iv e Re habilit at io n F e e s t at u t e is inv alid o n it s fac e
.

Whe n c halle nging a s tatute as f ac ially unc ons titutional, this Court e x plain e d i n Peraz a v. State , “A f ac ial c halle nge is an attac k on a s tatute its e lf a s o ppos e d to a partic ular applic ation. ” City of Los A ng e l es v
. Patel , –––U

. S.

––

– – , – –––, 1 3 5 S. Ct. 2 4 4 3 , 1 9 2 L

. E d. 2 d 4 3 5 (2 0 1 5 ). In orde r to s uc c e s s f ully m ount a f a c i a l c halle nge to Artic le 1 0 2

. 0 2 0 , P e raza m us t e s tablis h that no s e t of
c irc um s tanc e s e x is ts unde r w hic h that s tatute w ould be v alid. Peraz a v. State , 4 6 7 S. W. 3 d 5 0 8 , 5 1 4 (T e x . Crim

. App. 2 0 1 5 ), c ert. den i e d , 1 3 6 S. Ct. 1 1 8 8 (2 0 1 6 ). T his Court dir e c t e d that t he e v aluation of a s tatute s hould re v ie w w he the r a de f e ndant “has m e t his burde n to s how t hat the re are no pos s ible c ons titutional applic ations o f the s tatute

. ” Peraz a , 4 6 7 S. W

. 3 d a t 5 1 5

. In de c iding the D N A re c ord
f e e w as c ons t

itutional, this Court e x plaine d:
T he s tatutory s c he m e alloc ating the s e re s ourc e s to the s tate h ighw ay f und are re quire d , v

ia inte rc onne c te d s tatutory prov is ions , t o b e e x p e nde d f

or le gitim ate c rim inal jus tic e purpos e s
. T he re f ore , the y do n o t c ons titute a tax and thus do not v iolate the s e paration of

pow e rs c laus e
. Per a z a , 467 S

. W

. 3 d at 5 2 1

. Conv e rs e ly , a c ourt c os t that is not e x pe nde d f or a le gitim a te c rim i n a l j u s t i c e p urpos e is a tax and d o e s v iolate the s e paration of pow e rs

c laus e
. The re is no aut ho rit y o r re as o ning fo r w h y t he Co mpreh en s i v e Re habilit at io n F e e is a le git imat e c o u rt c o s t . Cour t c os ts m us t be “e x pe nde d f or le gitim ate c rim inal jus tic e p urpos e s
. ” Peraz a , 4 6 7 S. W. 3 d at 51 7

. “A c rim inal jus t ic e purpos e is one that re late s to the adm inis tration of

our c rim inal jus tic e s y s te m
. ” I d

. T he Com pre h e ns iv e R eh a bilitation f e e is 9

. 8 2 1 8 pe rc e nt of the c ons olidate d

c ourt c os t. T E X

. L O C

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 133. 1 0 2 (e )(6 ). ( W e s t). T he

-11-Com p re he ns iv e Re habilitation F e e f unds are s p e nt at the dire c tion of t h e D e partm e nt of As s is t iv e and Re habilitativ e Se rv ic e s

- an e x e c utiv e b r a n c h ag e n c y . See T EX

. H U M

. R E S

. C O D E A N N

. § 1 1 5

. 0 0 1

. A c urs ory re v ie w of t he s tatute f

or this age nc y

e s tablis h e s : (a) Th e com pre he n s iv e re habilitation f und is c re ate d in the s tate t r e as ury
. Mone y in t he f

und is de riv e d f

rom c o urt c os ts c o l l e c t ed unde r S u b c h apte r D , Chapte r 1 0 2 , Code of C rim inal P roc e dure

. Mone y in the f

und m ay b e appropriate d only to t he c o m m is s i o n f or the purpos e s prov

ide d by Se c tion 1 1 1

. 0 5 2

. T EX

. H U M

. R E S

. C OD E A N N

. § 1 1 1

. 0 6 0

. A re v ie w o f the “purpos e s ” of this m o ne y unde r c u rre nt T e x as law

is : (a) Th e com m is s ion s hall, to the e x te nt of re s ourc e s a v ailable and prioritie s e s tablis he d b y t h e board, prov ide re habilitation s e rv

ic e s dire c tly or through public or priv ate re s ourc e s to ind i vi d u a l s de te rm ine d by the c om m is s io n t o b e e ligible f or the s e rv

ic e s unde r a v oc ational re habilitation pro g r a m o r o the r program e s tablis he d to prov ide re habilitativ e s e rv

ic e s
. b) In c arry

ing out the purpos e s of

this c hapte r, the c om m is s ion m a y : (1 ) c oope rate w

ith othe r de partm e nts , a g e nc ie s , politic al
s ubdiv is ions , and ins t

itutions , both public a n d priv ate , in prov iding the s e rv

ic e s aut ho r i z ed by this c hapte r to e ligible indiv

iduals , in s tudy

ing t he proble m s inv olv e d , and in planning, e s tablis hing, de v e loping, and p rov iding
ne c e s s ary or de s irable p rogram s , f ac ilitie s , an d s e rv

ic e s , inc luding thos e jointly

adm inis te re d w

ith s tate age nc ie s ; (2 ) e nte r into re c iproc al agre e m e nts w ith othe r s tate s ; (3 ) e s t ablis h o r c o ns truc t re ha b i l i t a t ion f ac ilitie s and
w ork s hops , c o ntrac t w

ith or prov

ide grants to age nc ie s , organizations , o r indiv

idu a ls a s ne c e s s ary to im ple m e nt this c hapte r, m a k e c ontrac ts o r o t h e r arrange m e nts w ith public and othe r nonprof it age nc ie s , o rg a n izations , or ins titutions f

or the e s t ablis hm e nt of w orks h o p s and
re habilitation f

ac ilitie s , and ope rate f

ac ilit i e s f or c arry ing out the purpos e s of

this c hapte r; (4 ) c onduc t re s e arc h and c om pile s tatis t ic s re lating to the p r o vi s ion of s e rv

ic e s to or the ne e d f

or s e rv ic e s b y dis a ble d indiv

iduals ;
-12-( 5) p r o vi d e fo r t h e e st ab l i s h me n t , s u p e r vi s i o n, m anage m e nt, and c ontrol of s m all bus i n e s s e nte rpris e s to be ope rate d by indiv

iduals w ith s ignif ic ant dis a bilitie s w he re the ir ope ration w ill b e i mp r o ve d through the
m anage m e nt and s upe rv

is ion of the c o m m is s ion; (6 ) c ontrac t w

ith s c hools , hos pitals , pr i va t e indus trial fi r m s , and othe r age nc ie s and w ith doc tors , nur s e s , te c hnic ia ns , and o the r pe rs ons f or t raining, phy s ic al re s torati on, trans portation, and othe r re habilitation
s e rv ic e s ; and (7 ) as s e s s the s t ate w

ide ne e d f

or s e rv ic e s n e c e s s ary to pre p are s tude nts w

ith dis a b i l i tie s f

or a s uc c e s s f

ul trans ition t o e mp l o y m e nt, e s tablis h c ollaborativ e re lations hips w

ith e ac h s c hool d i s tric t w ith e duc ation
s e rv ic e c e nte rs t o the m ax im um e x te nt pos s ible w ithin
av ailable re s ourc e s , and de v e lop s trate gie s t o as s is t v oc ational re habilitation c o u ns e lors in ide n tif y ing and re ac hing s tude nts in ne e d of trans ition planning. T EX

. H U M

. R ES

. C O D E A N N

. § 1 1 1

. 0 5 2

. U nlike t he DNA r e c o r d f e e , t he Co mpre he n s iv e R e habilit at io n F e e d o e s no t inv o lv e le git imat e c r iminal jus t ic e purpo s e s . Un l i ke the D N A re c ord f e e , w h ic h this Court he ld to be c ons titutiona l i n Peraz a , this f e e de s t ination unde r the c ons olidate d c ourt c os t (CCC) has no

re lations hip at all to c ourts or c rim inal jus tic e
. T he program ’ s goal is t o “ p rov ide

re habilitation s e rv

ic e s d ire c t l y o r t h r o ugh public or priv ate re s ourc e s to indiv iduals de te rm ine d by the c om m is s ion to be e ligible f o r the s e rv

ic e s unde r a

v oc ational re habilitation program or othe r p r o g ram e s tablis he d to prov ide

re habilitativ e s e rv

ic e s
. ” T EX

. H U M

. R ES

. C O D E A N N

. § 1 1 1. 052. While laudable a nd

c e r tainly s om e thing gov e rnm e nt s hould c are f or

- unde r the ne w s t andard c re ate d by
this Court, it is w holly u n r e late d to c rim inal jus tic e
. E v e ry s ingle tim e the CCC is

as s e s s e d, 9

. 8 2 1 8 % of the f e e goe s to Com pr e h e ns iv e Re habilitation

- a purpos e

unre late d to c rim inal jus tic e
. T he re f ore , d i r e c t i n g a c ourt c os t to c om pre he ns iv e -13-re habilitation is f ac ially u nc ons t

itutional be c a us e e v e ry s ingle C C C g oe s partially f or this purpos e
.

Clas s C t ic ke t s t o Capit al M urde r c o nv ic t io n s pay t his fe e .

T his Com pre he ns iv e Re h a b i l itation F e e is paid by n ot jus t pe ople w ho are

c onv ic te d of f irs t de g re e f e lonie s
. It is paid by pe o ple w ho ge t a tic k e t f

or jay w alk ing:
(a) A pe rs o n c onv

ic te d of an of

f e ns e s hall pay a s a c o urt c os t, in a d dition to all othe r c os t s : (1 ) $1 3 3 on c o nv

ic tion of a f e lony ; (2 ) $8 3 on c onv

ic tion of a Clas s A or Clas s B m is de m e anor; or (3 ) $4 0 on c onv

ic tion of a n onjail a b l e m is de m e anor of f e ns e , inc luding a c rim inal v iolation of a m unic ipal ordina n ce , o the r t han a c onv ic tion of an of f e ns e re lating to a pe de s trian or the park ing of a m otor v e hic le

. T E X

. L O C

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 1 3 3

. 1 0 2 (We s t). T his is e x a c tly the ty p e of f e e that is

w holly u n re late d to the c harge o r the c ourt and c an re s ult in pe ople be ing jaile d f or f ailure to pay
. W h i l e t he r e are law s that prohibit the inc a rc e ration of t h e indige nt

- it
is routine ly done :

B ut in m any c ourts ac ros s the L one S t ar State , it is as if the law and the Supre m e Court rulings ne v e r happe n e d. A B uzzF e e d N e ws i nv e s tigation into T e x as judic ial prac tic e f ound that w

ith no publ i c d e f

e n de rs pre s e nt, traf f ic c ourt judge s routine ly f lout the law , loc k

ing up pe o ple f

or d a y s , w e e k s , and s om e tim e s e v e n m onths be c aus e t he y di d n o t p ay f ine s the y c ould not af

f ord. T h e re s ult is a m ode rn- day v e rs ion of de btors pris on, an ins t itution that w as c om m on tw o c e nturie s ago but has be e n o utlaw e d
s inc e the e arly

’ 7 0 s
.

-14-Ke ndall T aggart & Ale x Cam pbe ll, Th eir Crime: B eing Poor. T h eir Sentenc

e: J ail

. 5 As a polic y m atte r, t his Court de c ide d in Peraz a that a de f

e ndant m us t s hou l d e r t he burde n of c os ts that are le g

itim ate ly re late d to c rim inal jus ti ce
. 6 Th i s c os t is not re late d. T his

c os t is a c og in the c r i mi n al i z a t i o n o f pov e rty and the jailing of the poor. It is not a

c os t that s hould be borne as a c ourt c os t.

E ac h indiv idual c o s t unde r t he c o ns o l idat e d c o urt c o s t s t at ut e m us t be analy z e d. As to the c o ns titutionality

of the e ntire s tatute : It has be e n c ons is te n tly he ld that w he r e a portion of a s tatute h as be e n d ec l a re d u nc ons t

itutional, and the re is an abs e n c e of a s a v ing or s e v e rability c laus e , the re m ainde r of the s t a t u t e mus t be s u s t aine d if it is c om ple te in its e lf and c a p a bl e o f be ing e x e c ute d in ac c ordanc e w ith the l e g is lativ e inte nt w holly inde pe nde nt of that w hic h has be e n re je c te d. Tussey v. State , 4 9 4 S. W. 2 d 8 6 6 , 8 7 0 (T e x . Crim

. App. 1 9 7 3 ). T he re is n o s av ings c laus e

or s e v e rab i l i t y c laus e in the c ons olidate d c ourt c os t s tatute

. Additionally , w e re one

s e c tion to be f

ound unc ons titutional, it w ou l d u n de rm ine the e n tire ty of the s tatute

. As Jus tic e Jam is on e x plaine d in he r dis s e nt in S al inas : U nde r the c irc um s tanc e s pre s e nte d in t h is c as e , t he s tatute re q uire s $1 3 3 be gathe re d a n d d is tribute d ac c ording to s pe c if ie d pe rc e ntage s
. P e riod. B e c aus e the s tatu t e ca n n o t be s alv a g e d by s e v e ring
c ons titutionally

- f

unde d program s f

rom t hos e not prope rl y f unde d , t h e s t a t ut e is f

ac ially unc ons titutional e v e n if c e rtain of the l i s t ed program s c ould be c ons titutionally fu n de d through c ourt c os ts as s e s s e d agains t c rim inal de f e n dants

.

5 https : //w

w w . buzzf e e d. c om /k e ndalltaggart/in- t e x as

- its

- a- c rim e

- to- be

- poor? ut m _te rm =
. rpd0 0 Q oZ r#

. k

pdWWJ9 lv

(las t v is ite d s ite 6 /4 /2 0 1 6 ).

6 All inm ate s pay c ourt c os ts f rom the ir inm ate t rus t f

und. T E X

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 5 0 1

. 0 1 4 (e

)(4 ) (We s t). Any m one y s e nt to indige n t inm ate s is s ubje c t to garnis hm e nt. -15-Sal

inas v. State , 4 2 6 S. W. 3 d 3 1 8 , 3 3 3 (T e x . App.

— H ous ton [ 1 4 th D is t. ] 2 0 1 4 ), rev’ d , 4 6 4 S. W. 3 d 3 6 3 (T e x . Crim

. App. 2 0 1 5 ) ( Jam is on, J. , dis s e nting). T he s e v e rability is s ue c an re ally only be re s olv e d in one w a y . T h e s t a t u t e s h o ul d b e de c lare d e ntire ly

unc ons titutional as Jus tic e J a mis on e x plaine d in he r dis s e nt. T hat de te rm ination

w ould m ak e s e n s e be c aus e the s tatute re a ds that: A pe rs on c onv

ic te d of an of f e ns e s hall pay

as a c ourt c os t, in addition to all othe r c o s ts : (1 ) $1 3 3 on c onv ic tion of a f

e lony ; T EX

. L O C

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 1 3 3

. 1 0 2 (Ve rnon).
If this C ourt w e re to d e te rm ine c e rtain portion s of t he s tatute unc ons titutional,
i t would not be the inte nt of the le gis lature t hat t he c ons titutional por t i o n s

re apportion the

$1 3 3 c ourt c os t. An alte rnativ e w ay to hand l e the proble m m ight b e that the s tatute ’ s p e rc e ntage

c ould b e re apportione d. I t c ould b e c alc ulate d to f it the pe rc e ntage dic t a t e d b y the

s tatute

. H ow e v e r, t h i s wo uld m ak e (b)(1 )’ s $1 3 3 s t ate d a m o unt inac c urate

. T he

c ons titutional portions of the s tatute f unding v a l i d c ou r t cos t s c ould be e x c is e d if this
Court c onc lude d the y are w holly inde pe n de nt to the e ntire ty o f t he s tatue

. See Sal as

v. State , 3 6 5 S. W. 2 d 1 7 4 , 1 7 5 (T e x . Crim

. App. 1 9 6 3 )(e x plaining t h at “if the

unc ons titutional or vo i d portion of any s tatute be s tric k e n out and that w hic h

re m a ins is c om ple te in its e lf and c apable of be in g e xe c u t e d in ac c ordanc e w ith the
appare nt le gis lativ e inte nt , wh ol l y inde pe nde n t of that w hic h is re je c te d , the s tatute

m us t b e s us taine d”). H o w e v e r, this pos s ibility is unw ork able

. The fo rme r family pro t e c t io n fe e - part ly c o ns t it ut io nal and part ly no t

. T e n y e ars ago, the Attorne y G e ne ral c o ns ide re d the c ons titutionality of
Se c tion 5 1

. 9 6 1 of the G o v e rnm e nt Code

. See T EX

. A T T ’ Y G EN

. O P

. N O

. G A- 0 3 8 7 -16-(2 0 0 5 ). T h is s tat ute authorize d c ounty c om m is s ione rs c ourts t o adopt a “f am ily
prote c tion f

e e ” in an am ount not to e xc e e d $ 30. See Ac t o f June 2 , 2 0 0 3 , 7 8 th L e g. , c h.
1 9 8 , 2 0 0 3 T e x . G e n. L aw s 7 1 1 (am e nde d 2 0 0 5 a n d 2 0 0 7 ) ( c u r re nt v e rs ion at T EX

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 5 1

. 9 6 1 (We s t 2 0 1 3 )). T he f e e w as to be c olle c te d upon t h e f iling
of a s uit f or t he dis s olution of m arria g e
. Id

. Re v e nue f

rom the f e e w as to be dire c t e d

to tw o d if f e re nt de s tinations

. I

d

. Subs e c tion (d) c om m ande d that one

- half of the f e e be de pos ite d in the c ounty ’ s f am ily prote c tio n a c c ount. I d

. Subs e c tion (g) m andate d
that the othe r half of the f e e go to the State 's c hild abus e and n eg l e c t pre v e ntion trus t f und ac c ount. I

d

. T he AG opine d that Subs e c t i o n ( g )’ s alloc a t ion of re v e nue to t he State 's c hild
abus e and ne gle c t p re v e ntion trus t f und ac c ount w a s u nc ons t itutional. T EX

. A TT ' Y G EN

. O P

. N O

. G

A- 0 3 8 7 (2 0 0 5 ) at 5

. Ac c ording to t he A G, d i r e c ting re v e nue to the trus t f

und v iolate d the ope n c ourts prov is ion of the T e x as Cons titution. I d

. B ut the AG re ite rate d a p re vi o u s opinion that Subs e c tion (d)’ s alloc ation of re v e n ue

to t he c ounty 's f

am ily prote c tion ac c ou nt w a s c ons titutional. I d

. at 6

- 7

. T he s alie nt

m e s s age he re is n ot the re as oning f or the AG ’ s o pinion that one f e e d e s t i na t i o n wa s

c o n s t i t utional w hile t he othe r f e e de s tination w as n ot. Rathe r, the re as o n fo r

c iting t his AG opinion is t o s how t h a t c e rtain s t atute s c a n h av e both c ons titutional
and unc ons titutional as pe c ts

. A s t at ut e t hat is unc o ns t it ut io nal in part is an unc o ns t it ut io nal s t at ut e . A s tatute c an hav e b ot h c ons titutional and u nc o ns titutional as pe c ts

- e v e ry tim e the s tatute is applie d. Whe n is a f e e s tatute applie d? E v e ry

tim e the f

e e is as s e s s e d.

-17-Whe n a s tatute has u nc ons t itutional as pe c t s , the s tatu t e i t s e l f is

unc ons titutional. Th e s t a t u t e c an n o t c ontinue to e x i s t u n c h an ge d

. Th e

unc ons titutional portion of the s tatute m us t be e x c is e d f rom the re s t o f the s tatute

. In

s om e c irc um s tanc e s , the re m aining portion of t he s tatute c an c o ntinue in e ff e c t. In

ot h er s ituations , the e x c is ion of the inv alid portion o f the s tatute m ak e s this
im pos s ible

. See T E X

. G O V ' T C O D E A N N

. § 3 1 1

. 0 3 2( C ) ( W e s t 2 0 0 5 ) (“[

I] f any
prov is ion o f the s tatute or its appl i c ation to any pe rs on is he ld inv alid, the
inv alidity doe s not af

f e c t o the r prov

is ions or a p plic ations of the s tatute t h at c an be giv e n e f f e c t wi t h o ut t h e inv alid prov is ion or applic ation, and to this e nd the
prov is ions of the s t atute are s e v e rable

. ”).
In the c as e of Se c tion 5 1

. 9 6 1 , the s tatute c ould n ot c ontinue to s tand

- e v e n

w ith the of

f e n ding prov

is i o n s e ve re d out. In orde r to k e e p the c ons titutional portion of the s t atute in e f f e c t, the L e gis lature h a d t o a m e nd the s tatute

. T he
L e g is lature did s o in the v e ry ne x t le gis lativ e s e s s ion. See Ac t of May 2 2 , 2 0 0 7 , 8 0 th
L e g
. R. S

. , c h

. 63 7 , 2 0 0 7 T e x . G e n. L aw s 1 2 1 2 , 1 2 1 5

. T he am e n dm e nt re duc e d the f e e f rom $3 0 to $1 5

. T he am e n dm e nt dire c te d the $1 5 f e e to the c ounty ’ s f

am ily
prote c ti o n a c c o u n t w h ic h the AG h ad f ound to be c ons titutional. Additionally , the

am e ndm e nt re pe ale d Subs e c tion (g) w hic h had dire c te d part o f t h e p rior $ 3 0 f e e to the State ’ s c hild abus e and ne g le c t pre v e ntion trus t f

und.
As note d i n t h e f

ore g oing paragraph, w he n a portion of a s tatute is

unc ons titutional, the s tatute its e lf is unc ons t

itutional.

-18-Change s in Te xas w it h c o urt c o s t s and po o r pe o p le

. T he Judic ial Counc il of T e x as c ons ide re d c hange s to the Colle c t ion
Im prov e m e nt P rogram this m onth, w ith the Adm inis trativ e D ire c tor e x plaining:
T he prim ary goal of the p ropos e d am e ndm e nts is t o prov ide proc e dure s that w ill he lp de f

e n dant’ s [ s ic ] c om ply w

ith c ourt orde re d c os ts , f

ine s and f e e s w ithout im pos ing undue hards hip on de f e ndants and de f

e ndant’ s de pe nde n ts

. T he am e ndm e nts als o c larif y that the CIP is not inte nde d to e nc ourage the inc a rc e ration of de f e ndants w ho are unable to pay

. 7
Th e Judic ial Counc il als o re c e iv e d a le tte r f rom a “c oalition o f o rganiza t i on s ”

w ork ing toge the r re garding c ourt c os ts : F inally , the s e am e ndm e nts w ill im prov e public c o nf ide nc e in t h e judic iary

. L oc al c ourts around the c ountry a re the s ubje c t of an ongoing national c onv e rs ation c o n c e r n i n g adm inis t ration of jus tic e f or d e fe n d a n ts w ho are t oo poor to pay f ine s and f

e e s
. B y c larif

y ing that
c ourts s h ould n ot dire c t the ir m os t inte ns iv e c o lle c tiv e e f f orts a t p e ople
w ho s tru g

gle to s upport the m s e lv e s and the ir f a m ilie s , the s e am e n dm e nts prom ote the public pe rc e ption that T e x as c ourts do not vie w the m s e lv e s as re v e nue c e nte rs , but rathe r as ins titutions s triv ing tow ard the im partial adm inis tration of jus tic e
. 8
In Chie f Jus tic e H e c ht’ s 2 0 1 5 State of the Judic iary , he c onc lude d
A l l pe ople y e arn f

or jus tic e
. T he prophe t Am os c rie d, “L e t jus tic e roll dow n lik e w ate rs , and righte ous ne s s lik e an e v e r- f low ing s tre a m. ” T h e T e x as Judic iary

is c om m itte d to this s ac re d c aus e
. http: //w w w . tx c ourts

. gov /m e d ia/8 5 7 6 3 6 /s tate

- of

- t h e

- judic iary

- 2 0 1 5

. pdf
T he CCC is u nc ons t

itutional b e c aus e of the pe rc e n tage of the c o u r t c os t d i r e ct e d t o c om pre he ns iv e re h abilitation. It is a tax on the pe ople of this s tate

. I t

7 http: //w

w w . tx c ourts

. gov /m e dia/1 3 8 0 4 6 1 /Me m o- re

- propos e d

- CIP

- am e ndm e nts

- 5

- 2 7

- 1 6

. pdf

(las t v is ite d Junr 9 , 2 0 1 6 ).

8 http: //w w w . tx c ourts

. gov /m e d ia/1 3 8 2 7 8 5 /Com m e nt- on- CIP

- C hange s
. pdf L e t t e r wa s fr o m re pre s e ntativ e s of the T e x as F air D e f e n s e P roje c t, T e x as Apple s e e d, Civ il Rights Clinic , U n iv e rs ity T e x as Sc hool of

L a w , and the ACL U of

T e x as
. -19-re s ults in indige nt pe ople be ing unf airly inc arc e r a t e d

. Th is Court s hould f ind the c os t

unc ons titutional.

P R A Y E R
Mr. P e nright p ray s t his Court re v e rs e t he C ou r t of Appe a ls and f ind the
Com p re he ns iv e Re habilitation F e e unc ons t itutional.

Re s pe c tf ully s ubm itte d , A L E X A N D E R B U N I N Chie f P u blic D e f

e nde r H arris County

T e x as /s/ J ani J

. M a s el l i Wood

______________________ J A NI J. M A SE L L I W O O D As s is tant P ublic D e f

e nde r H arris County

T e x as 1 2 0 1 F rank

lin, 1 3 t h F loor H ous ton T e x as 7 7 0 0 2 Jani. Mas e lli@ pdo. hc tx

. n e t (7 1 3 ) 3 6 8

- 0 0 1 6 (7 1 3 ) 3 6 8

- 4 3 2 2 T B A N o
. 0 0 7 9 1 1 9 5

-20-C E R T I F I C A T E O F S E R

V I C E
P u rs u ant to T e x . R. App. P roc
. 9

. 5 , this c e rtif ie s that on June

1 0 , 2 0 1 6 , a c opy

of the
f ore going w as s e rv e d e le c tronic a lly to c ouns e l f or the s t a t e ( t h r ough te x f

ile

. c om ) at the
f ollow ing addre s s e s : L is a Mc Minn State P ros e c uting Attorne y P

. O. B ox 1 3 0 4 6 , Aus tin, T X 7 8 7 1 1 , inf orm ation@ s pa. te x as
. gov Je s s ic a Ak ins As s is tant D is tric t Attorne y 1 2 0 1 F rank

lin Stre e t, 6 th F loor H ous ton, T X 7 7 0 0 2 Ak ins _Je s s ic a @ dao. hc tx

. n e t J ani M asel l i Wood

______________________________ JAN I J. MASE L

L I WOOD

-21-CE RT IF ICAT E OF COMP L IAN C E

P urs u ant to propos e d Rule 9

. 4 (i)(3 ), unde rs igne d c ouns e l c e rtif ie s that this
pe t ition c om plie s w

ith the ty pe

- v olum e lim itations of Tex. R. A pp. Proc

. 9

. 4 ( i) ( 2 ) ( D)

. 1

. E x c lus iv e of the p o r t i o n s e x e m pte d by Tex. R. A pp. Proc

. 9

. 4 ( i) ( 1 ) , this
pe t ition c ontains 4 , 2 4 4 w ords printe d in a proportionally s pac e d ty pe f ac e
. 2

. T h is pe t

ition is p rinte d in a proportionally s p ac e d , s e rif ty p e f ac e us ing
G aram ond 1 4 p oint f

ont in te x t and G aram ond 1 4 p oint f ont in f ootnote s produc e d by Core l WordP e rf

e c t s of tw are
. 3

. U nde rs igne d c ouns e l unde rs tands that a m ate ria l m is re pre s e ntation in

c om ple ting this c e rtif

ic ate , or c irc um v e ntion of the ty p e

- v olum e lim its i n Tex. R. A pp.
Proc

. 9

. 4 ( j) , m ay re s ult in the Court's s trik ing this brie f and im p os ing s anc tions agains t the p e rs on w

ho s igne d it.
J ani M asel l i Wood

________________________ _ ___ JAN I J. MASE L

L I WOOD

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