Case Name: Tommy L. MAY, Appellant, v. STATE of Texas, Appellee
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1982-06-03
Citations: 638 S.W.2d 74
Docket Number: No. 01-81-0393-CR
Parties: Tommy L. MAY, Appellant, v. STATE of Texas, Appellee.
Judges: Before DOYLE, DUGGAN and DYESS, JJ.
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 638
Pages: 74–75

Head Matter:
Tommy L. MAY, Appellant, v. STATE of Texas, Appellee.
No. 01-81-0393-CR.
Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (1st Dist.).
June 3, 1982.
Rehearing Granted June 24, 1982.
Barry J. O’Keefe, Houston, for appellant.
Larry Urquhart, Houston, for appellee.
Before DOYLE, DUGGAN and DYESS, JJ.

Opinion:
OPINION
Abatement
PER CURIAM.
This is an appeal from a conviction for aggravated rape. Punishment was assessed at 20 years confinement.
Appellant's court-appointed attorney, the Honorable Barry O'Keefe, has filed a tenth request for extension of time to file the appellant's brief. On May 13, this Court granted appellant's ninth motion to extend time to file appellant's brief with instructions that no further extensions of time would be entertained. That time limit expired May 20, 1982.
Absent a showing of extraordinary circumstances, this Court will deny motions to extend time to file briefs after appellant has been instructed that no further extensions will be entertained. Accordingly, appellant's tenth motion to extend time to file his brief is denied.
In Guillory v. State, 557 S.W.2d 118 (Tex. Cr. App. 1977) and Talley v. State, 593 S.W.2d 702 (Tex. Cr. App. 1980), the Court outlined options available to the Court when no brief is filed. Alternatives discussed include:
1. Commanding counsel to file a brief within a specified period of time and if he fails to do so issue an order requiring counsel to show cause why he should not be held in contempt.
2. Report counsel to appropriate grievance committee.
3. Relieve the attorney and appoint an attorney who will act as an advocate.
4. Direct trial judge to see that the attorney receives no further appointments to represent indigents in his court.
Guillory and Tally were decided prior to this court's acquisition of appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases. However, the same options are available to this court.
It is therefore ORDERED that the judge of the 230th District Court of Harris County, the Honorable Joe Kegans, remove the Honorable Barry O'Keefe as counsel for the appellant and appoint another attorney to represent the appellant on this appeal. It is further ordered that the brief be filed in this case within 30 days of this order.
The appeal is abated.