Opinion ID: 2104596
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Procedural History on Rehearing

Text: On March 2, 1998, Respondent filed his Motion for Rehearing of the Review Tribunal's Findings and his Motion to Supplement the Record. A Motion for Rehearing may be filed within fifteen (15) days of the date of judgment unless the Review Tribunal directs in its judgment that such a motion will not be entertained. See Tex.R. Rem'l/Ret. Judg., 56 Tex.B.J. 823 (1993), Rule 14. Respondent asserted that he did not waive the constitutional challenges, as they were properly raised before the Special Master during a proceeding on March 10, 1997. Respondent sought to supplement the record with the transcript of that March 10th proceeding. The Examiner filed its response to both motions on March 13, 1998 and did not oppose Respondent's Motion to Supplement the Record. However, the Examiner did oppose Respondent's Motion for Rehearing on the ground that the supplementation of the record in no way affected the Review Tribunal's analysis and conclusion regarding preservation of his constitutional arguments. On April 3, 1998, Respondent filed his First Amended Motion for Rehearing and Request for Remand to make Conclusions of Law. Respondent argued that Rule 16 of the Texas Rules for the Removal or Retirement of Judges required the Commission to make both findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to the issues of fact and law in the proceedings. Tex.R. Rem'l/Ret. Judg., Rule 16. On April 22, 1998, the Review Tribunal issued an order requesting a response to the aforementioned motion. On May 6, 1998, the Examiner filed its Response to Respondent's First Amended Motion for Rehearing and Request for Remand to make Conclusions of Law. The Examiner argued that the Commission in fact made Conclusions of Law, that Respondent failed to preserve the constitutional claims for review, and that supplementing the record with the transcript did not cure Respondent's failure to preserve error. The Examiner also asserted that no basis for remand existed since no precedent supported it and good cause had not been shown as required by Tex.R. Rem'l/Ret. Judg., Rule 12(f). [1] On May 28, 1998, Respondent filed his Reply to Examiner's Response to Respondent's First Amended Motion for Rehearing and Request for Remand to make Conclusions of Law. Respondent argued that the recent opinion In re Lowery, 999 S.W.2d 639 (Tex.Rev.Trib. 1998, pet.denied) specifically reserved the right to a remand if necessary. Respondent also argued that the Rules of Appellate Procedure, under which the Review Tribunal operated, clearly allow a remand. See Tex.R.App.P. 43.3(a). As discussed in the original opinion, the civil rules of procedure, both trial and appellate, are applicable, to the extent that they do not conflict with the Rules for Removal or Retirement of Judges. Tex.R. Rem'l/Ret. Judg., Rules 10(d)(1), 12(e), and (g). On July 29, 1998, the Review Tribunal took the following action:

6. Ordered that the Commission's conclusions of law as to the constitutional issues raised in the supplemental record, including the question of the applicability of the Forgiveness Doctrine, be filed with the Review Tribunal on or before October 30, 1998, so as to fully afford the Commission sufficient opportunity to schedule and hear oral argument and otherwise comply with due process. The Commission filed its Supplemental Conclusions of Law on August 6, 1998. On August 27, 1998, Respondent filed his Objections to the Supplemental Conclusions of Law (along with his Response to the Examiner's Response to Respondent's Request for Oral Argument and Opportunity to Brief Issues of Constitutional Dimensions). On September 2, 1998, the Review Tribunal issued an order overruling Respondent's requests to rebrief and to orally argue before the Commission and ordered the parties to brief the issues regarding the Commission's Supplemental Conclusions of Law. Finally, on September 21, 1998, Respondent filed his brief and on October 1, 1998, the Commission filed its Reply Brief.