OFFICE OF 

### THEA’lTORNEYGENERAL OF - AUSTINHonorable A. E. EIoksr4on, Pam C

tham, mnmely krtlol~a 4&&-MO, In@., Vernon'4 Anaotat4d Cod4 or Criminal j:roaeaum. It ie stated In Texae 

### Jurisprudsnoe Volume :5, page 924:

"The undertaking of the bail I4 an original undertaking for the apgaarance of the principal to answer the 

### chargeagein4t him. Ii they **a0 no**  **h4v4 him**  **in 4012x-t**  **’** aocortllngto the term4 of their obligation, the undertaking stands forfeited, the proceeding to exact torBiturs beIn& prseorlb'ed by statute. * * *"
In order to compensate the county in whioh n oriainal proaecu?;Ionie had, provIsIon Is sad8 by the Cod4 for th4 payment **to that**  oounty of the amount4 **00li40t0a** from rorf4Itod bail bontla;the auum are not r4guIre12to be pelt?into the State Tremeury for the bonefit of the stats at large. Axti414 949, C.C:P., proqitleein part:

Woney coUeat44 by an offi44r upon r4oognIzano44, ball bonds and other ObligatiOn8 r44OY4Md UpOP In th4 ~4 Of the Stat.4* * * shall h4mwIth b4 paid over by tha offioars aollooting th4 mama to the oounty~traasur4r or the proprr aounty' 

### after firat dsduoting th4rafrom th4 Lsgal fetrsand oommissIo~ ror sollsotlng tha uam4.* Article 424, cods 

### of Ctiminal .zroaaaure**prcmia48:** Whenrsvar a damiant IO bound by rscognlzanoa or ball bond to appear at anp term ora oourt, and falls tc appear on ths day sst apart for taking up the orfmlnal docket, **or** any eubsequent day when his case ,'~ cm44 up Sor trial, **a** forfeiture of his rsoognlzanae or ball bona shall be taken,,* S4ctioa 11 ofArtlolo 4 of the State Constitution, ;gl~;Ggrent or power to ths Gov4rnor, provides In part a8

** * + 21 all oriminal caa40, eraapt tr(3aaonand lmpeachmnt, the tkvernor 4hall ha'?4~powar,aftsr oonviotion, on tha,written Hgnsd rsooramendationand ado144 of tha Board of iijirdOn6

and R~r0144, or a ~~~%Jorftytihersor, to grant r4prieves and comuntatlons ofHonorable A. 3. HIokerson, Pago 3

punishment and pardons; and under suoh rules as the Lagfslatura may prssoriba, and Ui)Onthe written r4mmond4tIon and advice of a majority of ths Board of Pardons and Parolaa, he shall have the gowar to reait rinea and **forfeitures.** ***** **‘ +,** ******
The **Leglelature** has provldsa in this raspaot t&t "ths Governor shall h4v4 powar tom&t forf'eiturasor **recognizanoea and** ball **bonda.*** (Artlole 034, Vsrnon*s knnnotatfsd

Code of CrImtoal Prooedura)
Articla 439, Vernon's Annotat48 Code of **CrIatml** Prooedum provides;

"If, barore final od@asnt is shtarad aij&hst ths bali tha **~rinolpal** apqsar orbe arreatod ani lodead In jaI1 of the protim oounty, tha oourt ma 2 at ite discration, r&t the who14 or p of tha sum 4p40iri44 in the bona or r440@8an44.*
It is tttfitdin TOXRO JUrisp~Ud.n$e, VOlUlEO s, &al@. 933 that:
eThIs statuta graiitsauthority to the trIa1 oourt to rmmlt a 

### torf&htr4 tuc4n, 4114 aloo laaveu it ,tobhr dirsrrtlon of tha oourt as towhather 

### ornot rueh a

### rmnl#aion ahall ba xfiae~.This dlsoration la oonfldad to the trial w!?i4, and not to ths Court or CrImInal Agpsals; and It Ia only In those 6aseo

### wham the

### moor4 a.lsalosssthat the trial,oourt hem abuss dlscratlon that ths um& zfzappsal wIl1 disturb tha jud#nsnt.

In addition to tha diooretlonarp 

### powsrWhIeh the oourta are clothed tordt the wh614 or a part of the ferfsi,tura,It axgears that remIssIon may be amatter OS right+ Art1614 

### 440,Vsrnonts Annotatsd Cdl@ of CrIstLml Pro~m¶urs >rovidssr

"Vlh4nthe prtiolgal appsars before tha ~atq of~.fylnal

judgacsnt,and suftiiolentaaus4 Is ahown for his rallure to 

### appertr bsfors the rOrr8ittIX4 is t&can, and a trial Is had-of the orietinslaatlon pending againat hira,ho

## 4338

Eonorab:La A. 

### 2. Iliokeraon,Page 4

shffll54 entitled to have th4 r0rf4itu4 44t aside. The orimi~~alnction a&xdmt hlinL shall stand for trial but the State shall not be forced to try the SSE~ until reasonable 

### time hae been allowed to propare for trial, and the State ehall, in such case, be entitled to a ooatinuano4.w
Article 436, Vernon's Annotated Cads of Criainsl Yroced,.dii~ez

specifically provides exc.lusivedefensive oauses which must exiet in order that final judgment of forfaiture may be avoided. Keferring to this statute, it is atated in Texas Surleprudence, Volume 5, page 938:

" * * * Itwas maotad for the &pose of confining a ourety't,defenses to one cf thoee anmarated, and,to prevent any inquiry as to theIguilt or innoo4no4 of tho priaclpal def'endantor of the validity o~~.Anvalldltyof 

### the indiatmmt. The 

### aausea waiah will eronsrate the1,obliEorefrom liabflfty are held within narrow limits, eddenoing 

### an intention m the part of the ls&alP- UIVJtr,insure the state against the buMen ofmsettns multiplied issues of iaat. In 

### order tobe qxoneratad 

### from liability, theiobllgors mst bring themselves within the provisions of this statute whioh my be done only upon proper pleading L thk trial court.*

mr tha puspses 0r this opfnioa, we must 

### aerate that the forfolture of the above mentioned bond an6 the oolleotion of the &CO&O 

### was lagally dana as apeoified by ths statutes governing Qarteiturss of raoognizances nnc?bail bonda. We have discussed, above, the remlesion of forfeitures of 

### recof;nl24nesb and bail bomds a&d the ciroumstanaee 

### underwhfoh they are permitted. Zrrview cf the foregoing authorities and under the facts stated, you are resgoctively advtaed that it ia the opinion of this department that the Commiseionrrs~ Court has no losal right or authority wh&tsosver to remit br refund the above mentioned $800.00.

### HonorableA. 

### E.Hickorson,PagO5

Trustingthattheforegoingfullyanuwersyour

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