No. PD-1067-15

TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

Ex parte James Richard “Rick” Perry

Appeal from Travis County

* * * * *

STATE’S RESPONSE TO APPELLANT’S BRIEF ON THE MERITS ADDRESSING THE STATE’S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

* * * * *

LISA C. McMINN State Prosecuting Attorney Bar I.D. No. 13803300

P.O. Box 13046 Austin, Texas 78711 information@spa.texas.gov 512/463-1660 (Telephone) 512/463-5724 (Fax) PD-1067-15 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 11/12/2015 4:32:57 PM Accepted 11/13/2015 12:25:07 PM

ABEL ACOSTA CLERKTABLE OF CONTENTS

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i i

ARGUM ENT.

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

PRAYER FOR RELIEF.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

CERTIFICATE OF COM PLIANCE.

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

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE.

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

iI N DEX OF AUTHORI TI ES

Ca s es

Vi r g i n i a v. Bl a ck , 5 3 8 U.S. 3 43 (2 0 0 3 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 n

Neva d a Co mmi s s i o n o n Et h i cs v. Ca r r i g a n , 1 3 1 S. Ct . 2 3 4 3 (2 0 1 1 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . 4

N.A.A.C.P. v. Cl a i b or n e Ha r d wa r e Co

., 4 58 U.S. 8 8 6 (1 9 8 2 ).

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

Ex p a rt e Fo r n i er , _

_ S.W .3 d

_ _ , No . W R-8 2 ,1 0 3 -0 1 (Tex . Cri m . Ap p . 2 0 1 5 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

S t a t e v. Jo h n s o n , _

_ S.W .3 d

_

_ _ , No . PD-0 2 2 8 -1 4 (Tex . Cri m . Ap p . 2 01 5 ).

. . . . . 2

Or g an i z a t i o n f o r a Bet t er Au s t i n v. Keef

e , 4 0 2 U.S. 4 1 5 (1 9 7 1 ).

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

Ex p a rt e Lo , 4 34 S.W .3 d 1 0 (Tex . Cri m . Ap p . 2 0 1 3 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 , 3

New Y o r k S t a te Cl ub As s o ci a t i o n v. Ci t y o f New Y o r k , 4 8 7 U.S. 1 (1 98 8 ).

. . . . . 2 n

R.A.V. v. Ci t

y o f S t

. Pa ul , 5 0 5 U.S. 3 7 7 (1 9 9 2 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 , 4 , 5

Reed v. To wn o

f Gi lb er t , 1 3 5 S. Ct . 2 2 1 8 (2 0 15 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 n

Un i ted S t a t es v. S t even s , 5 59 U.S. 4 6 0 (2 0 1 0 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 , 3

Memb er s o f Ci t y Co u n ci l o

f Lo s An g el es v. Ta xp a yer s f o r Vi ncen t , 4 6 6 U.S. 7 89 (1 9 8 4 )..

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 n

Th o ma s v. Co l l i n s , 3 23 U.S. 5 2 6 (1 9 4 5 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

W a s h i n g t o n S t at e Gr a n g e v. W a s h i n g t o n S t a t e Rep ub l i ca n Pa r t y , 5 5 2 U.S. 4 4 2 (2 00 8 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 n

W a t ts v. Un i t ed

S ta t es , 3 9 4 U.S. 7 0 5 (1 9 6 9 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

i iUn i ted S t a t es v. W i l l i a ms , 5 5 3 U.S. 2 8 5 (2 0 0 8 ).

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

Co des

T E X

. P E N A L C O D E §1 .0 7 (a)(9 )(F). .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Other

h t t p : // www.s u prem eco u rt .g ov / o ral

_ arg u m en ts / arg u m en t

_ t ran s cri p t s / 07 -8 6 9 .p d f.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 n

i i iNo . PD-1 0 6 7 -1 5

TO THE COURT OF CRIM INAL APPEALS

OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

Ex p art e J am es Ri ch ard “ Ri ck ” Perry

* * * * *

STATE’S RESPONS E TO APPELLANT’S BRI EF ON THE MERI TS ADDRESSI NG THE STATE’S PETI TI ON F OR DI SCRETI ONARY REVI EW

* * * * *

TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIM INAL APPEALS:

Th e St at e Pro s ecu t i n g At to rn ey res p ect fu l l y p res en t s her Res p o n s e to

Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef o n th e M eri t s Ad d res s i n g t h e St at e’ s Pet it i on fo r Di s cret i o n ary

rev i ew.

Ov erbrea dth Tes t

W h i l e t h e t e x t o f t h e Fi rs t Am en d m en t i s s t rai g h t fo rward
, t h e cas el aw an d

d o ct ri n es ap p l y i ng i t are no t

. 1 Ap p el lan t ’ s o v erb read th an al y s i s i ncl u d es co m p o n en t s

1 Ev en Su p rem e Co u rt ju s t ices g rap p l e wi t h Fi rs t Am en d m en t i s s u es

. Du ri n g a 2 0 0 8 oral arg u m en t , J u s t i ce Brey er ad m i t t ed hav in g a “ d eep m i s u nd ers t an di n g o f t h e

1o f t h e tes t fo r a faci al ch al l en g e. S ee A pp el l an t ’ s Bri ef on t he M eri t s Ad dres s i n g t h e

St at e’ s Pet i t i o n fo r Di s cret i on ary Rev i ew at 1 9 -2 0
, 3 1 -3 5 (arg u i n g t h e s t at u t e i s

co n ten t -b as ed
, p res u m

pt i v el y i n v al i d
, an d n o t n arro wl y t ai l o red ). 2 He co n t en d s t h i s

i s a p ro p er o v erb read th an al y s i s u nd er Un i t ed St a t es v. S t even s , 55 9 U.S. 4 60 (2 0 1 0 );

R.A.V. v. Ci t

y of St

. P a u l
, 5 0 5 U.S. 3 7 7 (1 9 92 ); an d E x p a r t e Lo

, 4 3 4 S.W

. 3 d 1 0 (Tex

.

Cri m

. Ap p

. 2 0 13 ). Cas el aw fro m b ot h t he Su p rem e Co u rt an d t h i s Co u rt h av e b een

u n cl ear an d i n co n s is t en t

.

Ex p a r t e L o m i sp l aced t h e b u rd en o f p ro of an d co n fl at ed t h e tes t fo r faci al

u n co ns t it u t i o n al i t y wi t h t h e s t an d ard fo r Fi rs t Am en dm en t ov erb read t h

. 4 3 4 S.W .3 d

at 1 4
, 24

. In St a t e v. Jo h n s o n ,

_ _ S.W

. 3 d

_

_ _, No

. PD-0 2 2 8 -1 4 (Tex

. Cri m

. Ap p.

c o n t e n t -b as ed t es t.” Y

s u ra v. Po ca t el l o Ed

u ca t i o n As so ci a ti o n , No

. 0 7 -8 6 9
, Or a l A r g u m e n t T r a n s c r i p t , a t 3 2
, F o u n d a t h t t p : // www.s u prem eco u rt .g ov / o ral

_ arg u m en ts / arg um en t_ tran s cri p t s / 0 7-8 6 9 .p d f

“ I k n o w i t ’ s al l o ver t h e l aw, b u t I’ v e n ev er u n ders t oo d i t .” Id

. Sh o rt l y aft er J u s t i ce Brey er’ s co m

m en t , Ch i ef J u s t i ce Ro b ert s st at ed
, “ Si n ce we are in co n fes s i o n al m o de, I’ v e n ev er u n d ers to o d fo ru m an al y s i s .” Id

. at 3 3

.

2 A t y p i cal Fi rs t Am en d m en t ch al l en g e t o t h e faci al co n s t i t u t i o nal i ty o f a s t at u t e cl ai m s t h at t he s tat u t e is u n co n s t i tu t io n al i n al l o f i t s ap p l i cat i o n s

. N e w Y o r k S t a t e Cl u b As s o ci a ti o n v. Ci t

y o f New Y o r k
, 4 8 7 U.S. 1
, 1 1 (1 9 8 8 ); Memb er s o f Ci t y Co u n ci l v. Ta xp ayer

s f or V i n cen t , 4 6 6 U.S.7 8 9
, 7 9 7 -9 8 (1 9 8 4 ). Th erefo re, i t h as n o

“ l eg i t i m at e s weep .” W

a s h i n g t o n S t a t e Gr a n g e v. W ashington State R e

public an Pa r t

y , 5 5 2 U.S. 4 4 2
, 4 4 9 (2 0 0 8 ). If t h e res t ri ct i o n o n s p eech i s co n t en t -b as ed
, s t ri ct s cru t i ny ap p li es , i.e., t h e b u rd en i s on t h e St at e t o s h o w t h e s t at u t e i s n arro wl y t ai l o red to ach i ev e a co m

p el l i n g g ov ern m en t al i n t er e s t

. R e e d v. To wn of Gi l b er t , 1 3 5 S. Ct

. 2 2 1 8 , 2 2 3 1 (2 01 5 ).

22 0 1 5 ), t h i s Co u rt reci t ed t he c o r r e c t t e s t an d pro p erl y p laced t h e b u rd en o n t h e

d efen d an t to p ro v e o v erb read t h

. Sl i p o p

. at 6

. Bu t s i n ce Jo h n s o n , th e Co u rt h as

reci ted a po rt i o n o f Ex p a r t e Lo ’ s fau l ty o v erb read t h an al y s i s

. S ee Ex p a r t e Fo r n i er ,

_ _ S.W .3 d

_ _ , No

. W R-8 2 ,1 0 3 -0 1
, Sl i p o p

. at 2 (Tex

. Cri m

. A p p

. 2 0 15 ) (“ A l t h o u g h

t h e S t at e h ad a co m

p el l i n g i n t eres t i n p ro t ect in g ch i l d ren fro m s ex u al pred at o rs , §

3 3 .0 2 1 (b ) was n o t n arro wl y d rawn “ b ecau s e t h ere are n arro wer m ean s of ach i ev i n g

t h e St at e i n t eres t s ad v an ced h ere, at l eas t s o m e of wh ich are al read y co v ered b y o t h er

s t at u tes .”). 3 Un fo rt un at el y , t h i s Co u rt h as n ot ack n o w l ed g ed or d i sav o wed Ex p a r t e

Lo ’ s fau l t y an al y s i s

. Un t il i t d o es , t h at an al y s i s wi l l co n t i n u e t o co n fo u nd t h e b en ch

an d b ar.

Co n trary to Ap p el l an t ’ s arg u m en t, i n an o v erb read th an al y s i s , wh et h er t h e

s t at u te i s co n ten t -b as ed is n o t rel ev an t

. T h at i s b ecau s e co n ten t -b as ed res t ri ct i o n s o n

s p eech are perm i t ted fo r a “ few h i s t o ri c an d t rad i t i o n al cat eg o ri es o f ex p res s i o n l o n g

3 J u d ge Yeary ’ s d i s s e n t i n g o p i n i o n ex p l i ci tl y d i st i ng u i s h ed th e t wo d o ct ri n es , s t at i n g , “ I b el i ev e i t i m

p o rt an t t o reco g n i ze t h at t h e o r d i n ary ru l e— req u i ri n g t h at a l i ti g an t ch al l en g i n g a l eg i s l at i v e en act m en t as u n c o n s t i t ut i o n al o n i t s face ‘ m u s t

es t ab l i s h t h at n o s e t o f c i rcu m s t an ces ex i s t s u n d er wh i ch t h e [ch al l en g ed s t at u t e]

wo u l d b e v al i d [,] ’

— do es n o t ap p l y t o F i rs t Am en d m en t o v erb read t h ch al len g es

. A p en al p ro v i s i o n d o es n o t h av e t o b e u n co ns t i t u t io n al i n al l o f i ts ap p li cat i o n s i n o rd er fo r an ap p el l at e co u rt t o d ecl are it faci al l y u n co n s ti t u t i o n al u n der t h e Fi rs t Am en d m en t 's o v erb read t h d o ct ri n e.” Id

. Sl ip o p. at 4 (Yeary
, J
., d i s sen t i n g ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed , b rack et ed m at eri al i n o ri g i n al ).

3fam i l i ar t o t h e b ar. ” St even s , 55 9 U.S. at 4 6 8

. Th es e res t ri ct i o n s do n o t “ ab ri d g [e]

t h e freed o m o f s p eech ” w i t hi n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e Fi rs t Am en d m en t b ecau s e s i m i l ar

l aws ex i s t ed at t he t i m e i t was rat i fi ed

. Neva d a Co mmi s si o n on Et hi cs v. Ca r r i g a n ,

1 3 1 S.C t

. 2 34 3
, 2 3 4 8 (2 0 1 1 ). Th es e cat eg o ri es o f s p eech
, i n cl ud i n g “ fi gh t i n g wo rd s ,”

are d eem ed “ co n s t i t u t i on al l y pro s cri b ab l e” ev en t h o ug h t h ey are n o t co n t en t -n eu t ral

.

R.A.V.
, 5 0 5 U.S. at 3 8 2
, 3 8 3 -8 4
, 3 8 7 (“ Ev en t h e p ro h i b i t i o n ag ai n s t co n t en t

d i s cri m i n at i o n t h at we as s ert t h e Fi rs t A m en d m en t req u i res i s n o t ab s ol u t e. It ap p li es

d i fferen tl y i n t h e co n t ex t o f p ro s cri b ab l e sp eech t h an i n t h e area o f fu l l y p ro t ect e d

s p eech

. ”).

Co n ten t-b as ed r e s t ri ct i o n s o n p ro s cri b ab l e s peech can v i ol at e t h e Fi rs t

Am en d m en t i f wri t t en in s u ch a way t h at t h ey al s o cri m i nal i ze a su b st an t i al am o u nt

o f s p eech t h at i s n ot p ro s cri b ab le. Th is i s t h e Fi rs t Am en dm en t o verb read t h t es t

. As

an ex am p l e, a st at ut e t h at fo rb i d s bo t h “ fi g h t i n g wo rd s ” an d s p eech t h at is “ m ean o r

h u rt fu l ” res t ri ct s b o t h p ro s cri bab l e an d n o n -p ro s cri bab l e sp eech

. If t h e res t ri ct i o n o n

n o n -p ro scri b ab l e s p eech i s s u b s t an t i al an d creat es a real is t ic ri s k o f ch i ll i n g p ro t ect ed

s p eech
, i t i s s u s cep t i b l e t o an o v erb read t h d et erm i n at i o n.

I n a d d it i o n t o b ei n g o v erb ro ad
, a co n t en t -b as ed res t ri ct i o n th at i s l i m i t ed t o

o n l y pro s cri b ab l e s p eech can vi o l at e t h e Fi rs t Am en d m en t i f t he r es tri ct i o n i s n ot

v i ewp o i nt n eu tral

. In R.A.V.
, t he Co u rt o v ert u rn ed a b an on p l aci ng a “ bu rn i n g cro ss

4o r Nazi s was t i k a,” kn own t o “ aro u s e an ger, al arm o r res en t m en t i n o t h ers o n t h e b as i s

o f race, co lo r, creed , rel i g i on o r g en d er.” 4 0 4 U.S. at 3 8 1

. Ev en t h ou g h t h e s t at u t e

was cl earl y ai m ed at “ fi g h t i n g wo rd s ” i t d i s fav o red a p art i cu lar v iewp o i n t

. Id

. at 3 8 6

-

8 7

. In th at s en s e, t he s t at u te w a s t o o n arro w. 4 Bu t R.A.V. was n o t an o v erb read th

cas e. 5 An d t h e i ss ue b efo re th i s Co u rt i n t h e St at e’ s p et i ti o n i s l i m i t ed t o o v erb read t h.

Reg ard les s , t h e s t at u t e i n t h i s cas e p as s es m u s t er un d er t h e R.A.V. fo rm u l a t i o n

b ecau s e i t i s v i ewp o i nt n eu t ral

.

Th e co erci on o f a p u b li c s erv an t s t at u t e cri m i n al i zes co erci ve t h reat s

. Ev en

t h o u g h su ch t h reat s are ex p res s i v e, t h e s t at u t e i s ai m ed m ore at co n d uct t h an at

s p eech

. S ee R .A.V.
, 4 0 4 U .S. at 3 8 9 (“ W ord s can i n so m e ci rcu m s t an ces v i o lat e laws

d i rect ed no t ag ai n s t s p eech b u t ag ai n st co n d u ct (a law ag ai n s t treas o n , fo r ex am p l e,

i s vi o l at ed b y tel l i n g t h e en em y t h e Nat io n ’ s d efen s e s ecret s .”)). An d i t s res t ri ct i o n

i s v i ewp o i n t -n eu t ral becau s e i t d o es n o t fav o r a p art i cu l ar po s it i o n

. Th e s t at u t e b an s

4 Th e C o u r t l at er u p hel d a s t at u te fo rb i dd i n g cro s s -b urn i n g wi th i n t en t to i n t i m i d at e t h at d i d n ot refer t o race, c o l o r , creed
, rel i g i o n o r g en d er. Vi r g i n i a v. Bl a ck , 5 3 8 U.S. 3 43 , 3 6 2 -6 3 (2 0 0 3 ).

5 Th e l o wer co u rt h el d t hat t he s t at u e was n o t o v erb ro ad b ecau se it ad d res s ed o n l y fi gh t in g wo rd s

– sp eech t h at i s n o t p ro t ect e d b y t h e Fi rs t Am en d m en t. 5 05 U.S. at 3 8 0 -8 1

. It al s o h el d t hat t h e o rd i n an ce was no t i m p erm i ss i b l y co n t en t-b as ed b ecau s e i t w as n arro wl y

t ai l ored t o acco m

p l i s h a co m

p el l i n g s tat e i n t eres t

. Id

. at 3 8 1 . Th e Su p rem e Co u rt g ran t ed cer t i o r a r i o n th e o v erb read t h q u es t i on , b u t t h e m ajo ri t y , in ad d res s i n g wh et h er t he o rd i n an ce was v iewp o i n t-d i s cri m in at ory , ack n o wl ed g ed t h at t h e q u es t i o n d i d n o t i n v o l v e “ a t ech n i cal ‘ o verb read t h ’ cl ai m

. ” Id . at n . 3

.
5co erci v e t h reat s reg ard l es s o f t he p h i lo s o p h i cal
, p ol i t i cal
, rel i g i o u s , o r so ci al b en t o f

t h e co ercer o r t h e act i o n he i s at t em p ti n g t o i n fl u en ce. It i s o n l y t h e m o d e o f

co m m u n icat io n t h at is res t ri ct ed

. “ Th e reas o n w h y fi gh t in g wo rd s are cat eg o ri cal l y

ex cl u d ed fro m th e p ro t ect i o n o f t h e Fi rs t A m en d m en t i s n o t t h a t t h ei r co n t en t

co m m u n i c a t e s an y p art i cu l ar i d ea, b u t t h at t h ei r co n t en t em b o di es a p art i cu larl y

i n t o l erab l e (an d s o ci al ly u nn eces s ary ) m od e o f ex p res s i n g w h at ev er i d ea t h e s p eak er

wi s h es t o co n vey .” Id . at 3 9 3

.

To d et erm i n e t h e co n s t i t u t i o n al i t y of a st at ut e, i t is n eces s ary t o fu l l y co n s t ru e

i t

. Bu t wh et h er i t : 1 ) r e g u l at es s p eech v s

. co n d u ct , 2) i s co nt en t -b as ed
, o r 3 ) i s

v i ewp o i nt -n eu t ral d o es n o t o t h erwi s e affect t h e o v erb read t h cal cu l u s. Ov erb read th

i n v o l v es a s i m

p le wei g h i n g o f p ro t ect ed an d u np ro t e c t ed ex p res s i o n

. On l y wh en a

s t at u te i s ch al l en g ed fo r h av i n g n o perm i ss i b l e ap p l i cat i o ns un d er t h e F i r s t

Am en d m en t , i .e ., a t y

p i cal faci al u n co n s t it u t i o n al cl ai m , d o es “ s t ri ct s cru t i n y ,”

“ co m p el l i n g i nt eres t ,” an d “ l eas t res t ri ct i ve m ean s ” b eco m e rel ev an t

.

Meri ts

Ap p el l an t ci t es N.A.A.C.P. v. Cl a i b or n e Ha rd wa r e Co

., 4 5 8 U.S. 88 6 (1 9 8 2 ),

an d Or g a n i z a t io n f o r a B et t er Au s t i n v. Keef e , 4 0 2 U.S. 4 1 5 (1 9 7 1 ), i n su p po rt o f h i s

cl ai m t h at co erci ve s peech i s n o t p ro s cri b ab l e

. A p p e l l an t’ s Bri ef o n t h e M eri t s

Ad d res s i n g t h e S t at e’ s Pet it i on fo r D i s cret i o n ary Rev i ew at 2 3 -2 4
, 3 7. H o wev er,

6t h es e cas es d eal t wi t h ci t i zen s p i ck et i n g o r leafl et i ng ag ai ns t b u si n es s es

– s peech t h at

t h e Co u rt d e t e r m i n ed was p ro t ect ed des p i te i t s co erci v e n at u re. Cl a i b o u r n e

Ha r dwa r e Co

. , 4 5 8 U.S. at 9 10 ; Keef e , 40 2 U .S. at 4 1 9. Th e Su p rem e Co u rt d i d n ot

h o l d t h at al l co erci v e s p e e ch i s p ro t ect ed b y t h e Fi rs t Am en d m en t

. In fact
, i n a

d i fferen t co n t ex t , i t has reco gn i zed a co n s t i t u ti o n al li m i t on an em pl oy er’ s ri g h t t o u s e

co erci v e s p eech t o p e r s u ad e h i s em p l o y ees w i t h reg ard t o u ni o n m em b ers h i p.

Th o ma s v. Co l l i n s , 3 2 3 U.S. 5 26
, 5 3 7 -3 8 (1 9 45 ). Fu rt h erm o re, th e t y p e o f co erci o n

at i s s u e in t h i s cas e is v ery s p eci fi c, “ a t h reat , h o w ev er co m m u n i cat ed
, t o t a k e o r

wi t h h o l d act i o n as a p ub l i c s erv an t...” T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 1

. 0 7(a)(9 )(F).

Ap p el l an t al s o co n ten d s t h at t h e t h reat s fo rb i d d en b y t h e co erci o n s tat u t e are

n o t “ t ru e t h reat s ” u n der W a tt s v. Un i t ed S t a t es , 3 9 4 U.S. 7 0 5 (1 9 6 9 ), an d t hu s d o n ot

s u rv i v e F i rs t Am en dm en t s cru t i n y

. Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef o n t h e M eri t s A d d res s i n g t h e

St at e’ s Pet i t i o n fo r Di s cret i o n ary Rev i ew at 2 3, 3 6

. W at t s i s n o t co n t ro l l in g

. W at t s

w a s ch arg ed wi t h t h reat en i n g to k i l l t h e Pres i den t o f t h e Un i t ed St at es

. U n l i k e t h e

o ffen s e i n W

a t ts , t h e co erci o n o f a p u b l i c s erv an t s t at u t e d o es n o t at tem pt t o p ro s ecu t e

t h e th reat al o ne. Rat h er, i t cri m i n al i zes t h e us e o f a t h reat as a m ean s o f in fl u en ci n g

a p u b l i c s erv an t in t h e ex erci s e o f a s p eci fi c d u t y

. Th e t h reat i s m erel y an el em en t

–

n o t a s t an d -al o n e o ffen s e.
Ap p el l an t ’ s b ri ef i ncl u d es h y p o t het i c a l s co v ered b y t h e st at ut e, wh i ch h e

7co n ten d s wo u ld b e co n st i t u t io n al l y p ro te c t e d

. Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef on t h e M eri t s

Ad d res si n g t h e St at e’ s Pet i t i o n fo r Di s cret i o nary Rev i ew at 4 0

. So m e o f th es e were

i n co rp o rat ed i n t o t h e co u rt o f ap p eal s ’ o p i n io n an d ad d r e s s ed i n t h e St at e’ s b ri ef. 6

Bu t ev en i f s o m e o f t h es e h y po t h et i cal s are co v ered b y th e s t at u t e, an y p ot en t i al fo r

a real i s t i c ch il l i n g effect i s b el i ed b y t h e ab s en ce o f ev i den ce t h at t hi s t y pe o f co n d u ct

h as ev er b een p ro s ecu ted

. S ee Un i t ed S t a t es v. W

i l l i a m s , 5 5 3 U.S. 2 8 5 , 3 0 2 (2 0 0 8 )

(b ecau s e t h ere h ad b een n o p ro s ecu t i o n s fo r t h e h y po t h et i cal s po s ed
, “ [w] e can h ard l y

s ay , t herefo re, t h at t h ere i s a ‘ real i s t i c d an g er’ t h at [t h e s t at u te] wi l l d et er s u ch

act i vi t y .”).

Fi n al l y , Ap p el l a n t ’ s v ag u en es s arg u m en t 7 i s n o t p ro p erl y b efo re t h e Co u rt

b ecau s e t h e co u rt o f ap p eal s di d n o t ad d res s i t an d Ap pel l an t s ’ PDR d i d n o t rai s e i t

.

If t h i s Co u rt ru l es i n t h e St at e’ s fav o r o n o v erb read t h
, i t can rem an d fo r t h e co u rt o f

ap p eal s t o ad d res s v ag u en es s

.

6 S ee St at e’ s Bri ef o n t h e M eri t s o f t h e St at es Pet i ti o n fo r Di s cret i o n ary Rev i ew at 1 3 -1 4.

7 Ap p el l an t’ s Bri ef o n t h e M eri t s Ad d res s i n g t h e St at e’ s Pet i t i o n fo r Di s cret i o n ary Rev iew at 4 6 -5 2

.
8PRAYER FOR RELI EF

W HEREFORE, t h e St at e o f Tex as p ray s t h at t h i s Co u rt rev ers e t h at p art o f t h e

d eci s i o n o f t h e co u rt of ap p eal s h o l d i ng T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 36 .0 3 (a)(1 ),

i n co rp o rat in g T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 1 .0 7 (a)(9 )(F), u n co n s t i t u t i o nal l y o v e r b r o ad an d

o t h erwi s e affi rm

i t s d eci s io n

.

Res p ect fu l l y s u b m i t t ed
,

/ s / LISA C. M cM INN LISA C. M cM INN St at e Pro secu t i n g At t orn ey Bar I.D. No . 1 3 80 3 3 0 0

P.O. Bo x 1 3 0 46 Au s t i n , Tex as 7 8 7 1 1 i n fo rm at i o n @ sp a.t ex as .g o v 5 1 2 / 46 3 -1 6 60 (Tel ep ho n e) 5 1 2 / 4 6 3 -5 7 2 4 (Fax )

9CERTI FI CATE OF COMPLI ANCE

Th e un d ers i g ned cert i fi es t h at acco rd i ng to t h e W o rd Perfect wo rd co u n t t o o l
,

t h i s d o cu m en t co nt ai n s 2 2 5 0 wo rd s

.

/ s / LISA C. M cM INN LISA C. M cM INN St at e Pro s ecu t i n g At t o rn ey

10CERTI FI CATE OF SERVI CE

Th e u n d ers i g n ed cert ifi es t h at o n t hi s 1 2 t h d ay of N o v em b er 2 0 1 5, t he St at e’ s

Res po n s e t o Ap p el l an t’ s Bri ef o n t h e M eri t s Ad d res si n g t h e St at e’ s Pet i t i o n fo r

Di s cret io n ary

Rev i ew was s erv ed v i a cert i fi ed el ect ro n i c s erv i ce p ro v i d er t o :

An t ho n y G. Bu zb ee Tb u zb ee@ t x at t o rn ey s

. co m

Dav id L. Bo t sfo rd d b o t s fo rd @ ao l.co m

Th o m as R. Ph i l l i p s t o m .p h i l l i p s @b ak erb o t t s .co m

M i ch ael M cCru m

m i ch ael @ M cCru m l aw.co m

Dav id Go n zal ez d av id @ s g -l l p .co m

/ s/ LISA C. M cM INN LISA C. M cM INN St at e Pro s ecu t i n g At t o rn ey

11