Court Opinion

ID: 5073101
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-01 10:56:11.388828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:19:50.478536
License: Public Domain

Appeal is taken from a conviction for the offense of murder. After finding appellant guilty, the jury assessed punishment at sixty years.
On direct appeal, appellant argued the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the law concerning good time and parole, inasmuch as the charge is predicated upon an unconstitutional statute. The court of appeals rejected appellant's challenge to Article 37.07, § 4, V.A.C.C.P.Smith v. State, 740 S.W.2d 503 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1987).
In his petition for discretionary review, appellant urges the court of appeals erred in holding Article 37.07, § 4, supra, is constitutional. We find appellant is correct.
In Rose v. State, 752 S.W.2d 529 (Tex.Cr.App. 1988), this Court determined that Article 37.07, § 4, is unconstitutional. Under Rose, supra, it is still necessary for the court of appeals to conduct a harmless error analysis under the guidelines of Tex.R.App.P. 81(b)(2).
The judgment of the court of appeals is vacated and this cause is remanded to that court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.