OFFICE OF THE A’lTORNEYGENERAL OF - 

AUSTIN 
Honorable 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 charge agein4t 

him. Ii they a0 no h4v4 him in 4012x-t ’ 

aocortllng to 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?;Ion ie 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 r4guIre12 to be pelt? into the 

State Tremeury for the bonefit of the stats at large. Axti414 

949, C.C:P., proqitlee in 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 

fetrs and 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 or a 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 of Artlolo 4 of the State Constitution, 

;gl~;Ggrent or power to ths Gov4rnor, provides In part a8 

** * + 21 all oriminal caa40, eraapt 

tr(3aaon and lmpeachmnt, the tkvernor 4hall 

ha'?4 ~powar, aftsr oonviotion, on tha, written 

Hgnsd rsooramendation and ado144 of tha Board 

of iijirdOn6 and R~r0144, or a ~~~%Jorfty tihersor, to grant r4prieves and comuntatlons of 
Honorable A. 3. HIokerson, Pago 3 

punishment and pardons; and under suoh 

rules as the Lagfslatura may prssoriba, and 

Ui)On the 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 to m&t forf'eituras or 

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 bal i tha ~rinolpal 

apqsar or be 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 tttfitd in TOXRO JUrisp~Ud.n$e, VOlUlEO s, &al@. 

933 that: 

eThIs statuta graiits authority to the 

trIa1 oourt to rmmlt a torf&htr4 tuc4n, 4114 

aloo laaveu it ,to bhr dirsrrtlon of tha oourt 

as to whather or not 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.lsalosss that the trial, oourt hem abuss 

dlscratlon that ths um& zfz appsal wIl1 

disturb tha jud#nsnt. 

In addition to tha diooretlonarp powsr WhIeh the 

oourta are clothed to rdt the wh614 or a part of the 

ferfsi,tura, It axgears that remIssIon may be a matter OS 

right + Art1614 440, Vsrnonts Annotatsd Cdl@ of CrIstLml 

Pro~m¶urs >rovidssr 

"Vlh4n the prtiolgal appsars before tha 

~atq of~.fylnal judgacsnt, and suftiiolent aaus4 

Is ahown for his rallure to appertr bsfors the 

rOrr8ittIX4 is t&can, and a trial Is had-of 

the orietinsl aatlon pending againat hira, ho 
4338 

Eonorab:La A. 2. Iliokeraon, Page 4 

shffll 54 entitled to have th4 r0rf4itu4 44t 

aside. The orimi~~al nction 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.lusive defensive 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: 

" * * * It was maotad for the &pose 

of confining a ourety't, defenses to one cf thoee 

anmarated, and, to prevent any inquiry as to 

theI guilt or innoo4no4 of tho priaclpal 

def'endant or of the validity o~~.Anvalldlty of 

the indiatmmt. The aausea waiah will eronsrate 

the1 ,obliEore from liabflfty are held within 

narrow limits, eddenoing an intention m the 

part of the ls&alP- UIVJ tr, insure the state 

against the buMen of msettns multiplied issues 

of iaat. In order to be qxoneratad from liability, 

thei obllgors 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 under whfoh 

they are permitted. Zrr view 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. 
Honorable A. E. Hickorson, PagO 5 

Trusting that the foregoing fully anuwers your 

ATTi)RP:%Y GEf:E&& 

:i 

.E