Source: https://www.tdcaa.com/journal/expediting-pretrial-habeas-writs/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 05:08:53+00:00

Document:
This article aims to provide a solid foundation for dealing with pretrial writs of habeas corpus. It lays out when a pretrial writ is appropriate, the issues that are entertained, the requirements of the petition, how to respond, the nature of hearings, and appellate remedies.
As a preliminary matter, even before considering the merits of the claims made, prosecutors should determine whether the claims are permitted. Should the claims be outside the scope of those allowed in a pretrial writ—and, therefore, not cognizable—and relief granted, the writ has been misused and the State should appeal to correct the abuse.6# It also bears remembering that it is the substance of, rather than the label attached to, the document that controls how it is treated.7# Therefore, the nature of a document labeled as a writ may reveal that it is no more than a motion to dismiss.#8 If so, the writ should be dismissed.
Chapter 11 of the Code of Criminal Procedure governs all pretrial habeas proceedings.33# In the event of your receiving a petition, it is worth reviewing this chapter because most prosecutors are not familiar with its 60-plus provisions. Disappointing as it is, I’m sure, in this article we can hit only the highlights.
If a defendant has already sought a writ, he may seek a second if he states in a motion that, since the hearing on his first motion, he has obtained further “important testimony which … was not in his power to produce at the former hearing.”39# Additionally, he needs to set forth the “newly discovered” evidence and, if it be a witness’ testimony, include the witness’ affidavit.
Although there is no statutory duty on the State to respond as there is for an art. 11.07 writ, most trial courts probably expect a response, and a prosecutor is wise to file one.41# Given the opportunity to do so, if prosecutors do not file a reply, we cannot expect the trial court to consider all our arguments or an appellate court to give us the benefit of the doubt should we attempt to appeal the trial court’s ruling.
As with a written reply to most defensive pleadings, prosecutors should prepare a comprehensive (but succinct) response, laying out the pertinent facts and relevant law, in addition to raising any alternative arguments. Remember a couple of important appellate rules: If a trial court’s ruling is correct under any theory applicable to the case, it will be upheld.42# Also, if a theory was not presented to the trial court to consider, an appellate court will hold the theory forfeited on appeal.#43 Thus, if a dismissal is appropriate, seek it. If relief should be denied, assert it. If a hearing should not be held, argue it. Likewise, remembering our duty to “see that justice is done,” if a hearing is necessary or relief appropriate, request them.44# On occasion it may even be necessary to agree to some relief but not all. Employ lots of headings to assist the trial court in scanning through and understanding the State’s position.
Because there is no briefing schedule applicable to pretrial writs—except that imposed by the trial court, if any—a response should be promptly prepared, filed, and served. Statute requires that a writ be granted “without delay,” unless it is clear that no relief is appropriate.46# Besides the risk of incurring the wrath of the trial judge, there are statutory penalties, both criminal and civil, for disobeying a writ.#47 Most trial judges are acutely aware of any pending pretrial writs, so it is incumbent on prosecutors to act and act promptly.
Just as for the defense, when an appeal will not lie, the State should contemplate a writ of mandamus.60# The burden is tough but, with the proper circumstances, not always insurmountable.#61 By the way, the remedy from an adverse ruling on a writ of mandamus in the intermediate courts is to seek a writ of mandamus—not a petition for discretionary review—in the Court of Criminal Appeals.62# Both writ filings are original proceedings.
1 See, e.g., Green v. State, 999 S.W.2d 474, 477 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1999, pet. ref’d).
2 See Greenwell v. Court of Appeals for the Thirteenth Judicial District, 159 S.W.3d 645, 650 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (orig. proceeding).
3 Ex parte Hopkins, 610 S.W.2d 479 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980); Ex parte Lamar, 184 S.W.3d 322, 324 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005, pet. ref’d) (direct appeal available for speedy trial claim).
4 Ex parte Weise, 55 S.W.3d 617, 620 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).
5 Ex parte Ellis, 309 S.W.3d 71, 79 (Tex Crim. App. 2010). Indeed, this placed habeas writs in the same category as mandamus writs.
7 See Ex parte Caldwell, 58 S.W.3d 127, 130 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); In re Baugh, No. 12-09-00121-CR, 2009 Tex. App. Lexis 4525 (Tex. App.—Tyler, June 17, 2009, no pet.) (not designated for publication).
8 See, e.g., Ex parte Ahmad, No. 02-05-338-CR, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 209 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth, Jan. 11, 2007, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication).
9 See Ex parte Weise, 55 S.W.3d at 619-20.
10 See Ex parte Smith, 185 S.W.3d 887, 892 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
11 Ex parte Smith, 178 S.W.3d 797, 801 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005), op. withdrawn May 2, 2011.
12 Ex parte Martin, 6 S.W.3d 524 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
13 Ex parte Brooks, 312 S.W.3d 30, 32 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).
14 Ex parte Ellis, 309 S.W.3d at 79.
16 See Tex. Code. Crim. Proc. arts. 11.24, 11.64; Tex. R. App. P. 31.1 through 31.7; Ex parte Castellano, 321 S.W.3d 760, 763 (Tex. App—Fort Worth 2010, no pet.).
17 See, e.g., Ex parte Amador, 326 S.W.3d 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) ( “claim preclusion”).
18 Ex parte Watkins, 73 S.W.3d 264, 272 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (“issue preclusion”).
19 Ex parte Quintana, No. 08-08-00227-CR, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 7883 (Tex. App.—El Paso Oct. 8, 2009, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication) (although the validity of using the writ process was not addressed).
20 Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.46; Ex parte Smith, 178 S.W.3d at 801, referencing 43B George E. Dix & Robert O. Dawson, Texas Practice; Criminal Practice and Procedure §47.01, at 197 (2d ed. 2001).
21 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.25.
22 Ex parte Doster, 303 S.W.3d 720, 721 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).
23 Ex parte Weise, 55 S.W.3d at 619 (pretrial habeas cannot be used to assert constitutional right to a speedy trial); Ex parte Delbert, 582 S.W.2d 145, 145-46 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979) (no interlocutory review, by mandamus or habeas, of ruling on statutory right to speedy trial).
24 Ex parte Weise, 55 S.W.3d at 620-21.
25 Ex parte Tamez, 38 S.W.3d 159, 160 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001), and cases cited therein.
26 Ex parte Smith, 178 S.W.3d at 799.
27 Ex parte Smith, 185 S.W.3d at 893.
28 Miller v. State, No. 11-07-00369-CR, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 1698 (Tex. App.—Eastland, March 3, 2008, no pet.) (not designated for publication). Judge Onion provide a useful discussion of the in pari materia doctrine in Ex parte Wilkinson, 641 S.W.2d 927 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982).
29 See Ex parte Conger, No. 05-10-00938-CR, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 6440 (Tex. App.—Dallas, Aug. 9, 2010, no pet.) (not designated for publication).
30 Ex parte Lizcano, No. 05-07-00720-CR, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 6893 (Tex. App.—Dallas, Aug. 28, 2007, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication).
31 Ex parte Conner, 439 S.W.2d 350 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969).
32 Kelson v. State, 167 S.W.3d 587, 591 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2009, no pet).
33 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.64.
34 See Tex. R. App. P. 73.1.
35 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.14.
36 See Ex parte Golden, 991 S.W.2d 859, 861-62 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Ex parte Skinner, No. 13-08-00282-CR, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 6340 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Aug 13, 2009, no pet.) (not designated for publication).
37 See Dodson v. State, 988 S.W.2d 833, 835 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1999, no pet.); Ex parte Hawkins, 885 S.W.2d 586, 588 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1994, no pet).
38 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 11.27, 11.28, 11.29, 11.30 & 11.37.
39 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.59.
40 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.32; Saucedo v. State, 795 S.W.2d 8 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1990, no pet.).
41 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 11.39 & 11.44 (anticipating action by the State).
42 See, e.g., Romero v. State, 800 S.W.2d 539, 543 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (suppression rulings).
43 See Tex R. App. P. 33.1.
44 Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 2.01.
45 See Ex parte Countryman, 226 S.W.3d 435 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); but see Ex parte Martin, 6 S.W.3d 524 (dismissal with prejudice).
46 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.15.
47 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 11.17, 11.34, 11.35 & 11.36.
48 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 11.10 & 11.11; Ex parte Werne, 118 S.W.3d 833, 836 n.1 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003, no pet.).
49 In considering the options, a trial court might seek guidance from art. 11.07, §3(d).
50 See Manzi v. State, 88 S.W.3d 240, 251-53 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (Cochran, J., concurring).
51 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.44.
53 Ex parte Alt, 958 S.W.2d 948, 950 (Tex. App.—Austin 1998, no pet.).
54 Ex parte Hargett, 819 S.W.2d 866, 868 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
55 See Ex parte Lewis, 196 S.W.3d. 404, 405 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, no pet.).
57 See, e.g., Ex parte Rhodes, 974 S.W.2d 735 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) (State appealed grant of habeas relief on grounds of double jeopardy).
58 See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42.01; State v. Fowler, 97 S.W.3d 721 (Tex. App.—Waco 2003, no pet.) (dismissing State’s appeal from pretrial habeas ruling grating relief on grounds of no probable cause).
59 See, e.g., Ex parte Ellis, 309 S.W3d at 71; Ex parte Rhodes, 974 S.W.2d at 866.
60 TDCAA’s State’s Appellate Manual includes a very useful chapter on writs of mandamus written by Tarrant County Appellate Chief Chuck Mallin. It is available at www.tdcaa.com/publications.
61 See, e.g., State ex rel Vance v. Routt, 571 S.W.2d 903, 907-908 (Tex Crim. App. 1978) (requiring that no other adequate remedy at law be available and the act that the realtor seeks to compel be ministerial, rather than discretionary, in nature).
62 Padilla v. McDaniel, 122 S.W.3d 805, 808 (Tex Crim. App. 2003).
63 Ex parte Alt, 958 S.W.2d at 950.

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