Court Opinion

ID: 3159623
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-12-03 06:13:11.967742+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:00:13.241543
License: Public Domain

AP-77,047
                                                                     COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                                                                     AUSTIN, TEXAS
                                                                   Transmitted 10/16/2015 12:59:04 PM
                                                                      Accepted 10/16/2015 1:44:37 PM

                                  NO. AP-77,047                                       ABELA£?fS
                                      IN THE
                      COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                    OF TEXAS                               ***£*
                                                                             U      ,1 C--IS"

                        KENNETH WAYNE THOMAS,                           p|(_gQ |j^
                                   Appellant                    COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                         v.                            OCT 16 2015

                            THE STATE OF TEXAS,                      Abel Acosta, Clerk
                                              Appellee

       STATE'S MOTION TO ABATE OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE,
                    EXTEND THE TIME TO FILE BRIEF

TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

      THE STATE OF TEXAS, by and through the Criminal District Attorney of

Dallas.County, respectfully requests that the Court abate the instant appeal, or, in

the alternative, extend the time for filing the State's brief for 90 days. In support

of this motion, the State would show the following:

                                        I.

      Appellant is confined pursuant to the judgment and sentence of the 194

Judicial District Court of Dallas County, convicting him of the capital murder of

Mildred Finch. On July 23, 2014, the jury answered the special issues so as to

support the imposition of a death sentence, and the trial court sentenced him to
death.     Appeal to this Court is automatic.     After requesting three extensions,

Appellant's brief was filed on June 22, 2015.      The deadline for filing the State's

brief was July 22, 2015, however, this Court granted an extension of time until

October 20, 2015. This is the State's second request for an extension in this case.

                                           II.

         The State respectfully requests that the Court abate the instant appeal or, in

the alternative, extend the deadline for the filing of the State's brief for 90 days,

until January 18, 2016.

                                           III.

         The State would show the Court that a reasonable explanation exists for the

requested abatement or 90-day extension. First, the clerk's record in the instant

cause is incomplete. It lacks documents necessary for the State to respond to the

issues raised in Appellant's brief.    Second, the undersigned manages an extensive

docket, which has prevented completion of the State's brief by the existing October

20th deadline.

                                  The Clerk's Record

         On December 23, 2014, the Dallas County District Clerk filed the Clerk's

Record in the instant cause.          This record is not complete. Of particular

significance, it does not contain a signed copy of the trial court's charge and jury

verdict in connection with Appellant's punishment trial.          The existing record
contains the trial court's charge and jury verdict in connection with Appellant's

competency trial, but it does not contain the charge and verdict on punishment. In

his brief, Appellant raises four challenges to the court's punishment charge. In

order to respond to Appellant's claims, the State needs an opportunity to review

the charge that was actually used at trial.1

       In addition to the trial court's charge, the existing clerk's record does not

contain the following motions filed by the defense prior to trial:

       • Defendant's motion for discovery and inspection;
       • Motion for discovery and inspection of information necessary to a
           fair trial;
       •   Motion in limine (victim impact type evidence);
       •   Motion to preserve right to file other motions;
       •   Motion to preclude the death penalty as a sentencing option;
       •   Motion for discovery of extraneous offenses at punishment;
       •   Motion for production of impeachment evidence;
       •   Defendant's motion for discovery of experts;
       •   Motion for disclosure of any possible basis for judicial
           qualification or recusal;
       •   Motion to preclude the death penalty as a sentencing option and
           declare Article 37.071 unconstitutional {Jones v. United States;
           Apprendi v. New Jersey and Ring v. Arizona);
       •   Motion to declare the "10-12 Rule" unconstitutional;
       •   Motion to declare V.A.C.C.P. 37.071 unconstitutional and for
           other relief;
       •   Motion to hold that Tex. C. Crim. P. Art. 37.01 is unconstitutional;

   During trial, the State submitted proposed jury instructions. Draft copies exist in the State's
trial file. To the best of the undersigned's recollection, however, the charge was revised. At this
point, the undersigned cannot discern whether the State's copy accurately reflects the charge
actually used at trial. At trial, when the charge was read to the jury it was not transcribed in the
reporter's record. (RR70:4).
      •   Motion to declare the Texas capital sentencing scheme
          unconstitutional and motion to preclude imposition of the death
          penalty;
      •   Motion to hold unconstitutional V.A.C.C.P. Art. 37.071 Sec. 2(e)
          and (f) - Burden of proof;
      •   Motion to declare Texas death penalty statute to be
          unconstitutional (Juror's inability to predict future dangerousness);
      •   Motion to hold unconstitutional V.A.C.C.P. Art. 37.071 Sec. 2(e)
          and (f) - failure to require mitigation be considered;
      •   Motion for evidence favorable to the defendant;
      •   Motion to declare the Texas death penalty capital murder scheme
          unconstitutional based on the holding of the Supreme Court of the
          United States in Smith v. Texas;
      •   Motion to preclude the death penalty as a sentencing option and to
          declare Tex. C. Crim. P. 37.071 unconstitutional (Ring v. Arizona);
      •   Motion to dismiss the death penalty in the State of Texas on the
          ground that its capital sentencing procedure is unconstitutional due
          to its failure to meet minimum requirements set forth in Furman v.
          Georgia and its progeny, as evinced by the findings of the Capital
          Jury Project and other research;
      •   Defendant's specially requested motion to declare the defendant is
          "actually innocent" and or in the alternative to declare that he be
          sentenced to the time he has already served in the penitentiary in
          the interest ofjustice.

These motions were presented during a pretrial hearing conducted on June 20,

2014. (RR56:7-21).      In his brief, Appellant has raised at least ten constitutional

issues in connection with some of the aforementioned motions.

      Today, the undersigned, pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 34.5(c)(1), is delivering

a letter to the Dallas County District Clerk's office requesting that the record be

supplemented with the aforementioned documents. Tex. R. App. P. 34.5(c)(1).

(See Exhibit A).    The State is concerned, however, regarding the District Clerk's
ability to supplement the record.

        Since August, the undersigned and Appellant's counsel, Mr. John Tatum,

have been working together in an effort to locate the missing charge and motions

as well as any other documents that may have been omitted from the record.             The

District Clerk's file is available online via electronic database.     The electronic file

(which was transmitted to this Court on 12/23/14) does not contain the above-

mentioned documents.        The electronic file in Appellant's companion case, F86-

85457, does not contain the above-mentioned documents. The parties requested

and were granted permission from the trial court to review the District Clerk's

paper file.     The paper file does not contain the above-mentioned documents.

Notably, much of what is contained in the District Clerk's electronic file is not

contained in the paper file.        It is possible, if not likely, that the parties, in

accordance with Rule 34.5(e), will have to provide and stipulate to many of the

missing documents. See Tex. R. App. P. 34.5(e).           The undersigned has notified

lead trial counsel for the defense (in the presence of Appellant's appellate counsel)

and the prosecution2 that the clerk's record in this case is incomplete. Both have

agreed to assist if necessary.       The undersigned has also notified Appellant's

habeas counsel, Mr. Michael Mowla.

       Given the foregoing, as well as the fact that this case involves an appeal of a

2 The lead prosecutor at trial, Brandon Birmingham, is now the Presiding Judge of the 292nd
Judicial District Court.
death sentence, the State respectfully requests that the Court abate the instant

appeal and allow the Dallas County District Clerk's Office a reasonable amount of

time to supplement the record, either by locating the missing documents or by

notifying the parties that the missing records cannot be found at which time the

parties may attempt to enter into a stipulation regarding the documents.                In the

event that the instant appeal is abated, the State respectfully requests that the time

for filing the State's brief be extended for 30 days from the date of the filing of

the supplemental clerk's record.

       The State fully recognizes that the request for an abatement is unusual. But,

this is an unusual case. Appellant was charged with capital murder in two cases,

F86-85539 (the instant case, involving complainant Mildred Finch) and F86-85457

(involving complainant Fred Finch).            In February 1987, Appellant was tried,

convicted and sentenced to death in the Fred Finch case.               That conviction was

reversed because a juror was disqualified.3 In September 1987, Appellant was

tried, convicted and sentenced to death in the instant cause.          On August 25, 2010,

this case was remanded for a retrial on punishment due to Penry error. The State's

only goal in requesting an abatement is simply to allow sufficient time to compile a

complete and accurate record in this unusual case. This, unfortunately, is a time-

3See Thomas v. State, 796 S.W.2d 196, 197 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (discussing that a juror
failed to disclose that, at the time of her jury service, she was on probation for third-degree
felony theft and was under legal accusation for misdemeanor theft by check).
consuming process, but one better undertaken now rather than several months or

years in the future when the likelihood of recreating a complete and accurate

record is far less than it is today.

                               The Undersigned's Docket

       In the alternative, the State respectfully requests that this Court extend the

time for filing the State's brief by an additional 90 days. In addition to trying to

ensure that the clerk's record in this case is complete, the undersigned counsel

manages an extensive capital and non-capital docket.          Since Appellant's brief was

filed in this case, the undersigned has been responsible for the following:

       -   Reviewing the 170-page application for writ of habeas corpus in a
           death penalty case, Ex parte Matthew Lee Johnson and drafting the
           State's response (originally due September 25, 2015 but extended
           to November 24, 2015);

       -   Preparing the State's electronic trial file for open file review in a
           death penalty case, Ex parte Matthew Lee Johnson (provided
           October 1,20154);

       -   Preparing the State's paper trial file for open file review in a death
           penalty case, Ex parte Matthew Lee Johnson (on-going);

       -   Researching, drafting, and filing the State's brief in the Fifth
           District Court of Appeals in a non-death penalty capital murder
           case, William Gerard Palmer v. The State of Texas (filed
           September 15,2015);

       -   Researching, preparing, and delivering oral argument in the Fifth

4
  On October 1, 2015, the State delivered to counsel for the Office of Capital Writs a thumb-
drive containing 3.88GB of documents, the majority of which the undersigned reviewed page-
by-page for confidential information.
          District Court of Appeals in William Gerard Palmer v. The State of
          Texas (September 23, 2015);

      -   Preparing and appearing to present evidence in hearings in
          connection with the following non-capital applications for writ of
          habeas corpus:

             o   Ex parte Octavio Gonzalez (July 1, 2015);
             o   Ex parte Daniel Perez (July 24,2015);
             o   Ex parte Adolfo Maturino (August 27, 2015);
             o   Ex parte Jerrell Dittman (September 11, 2015);
             o   Ex parte Robert Thomas (October 2,2015);

      -   Drafting and filing the State's response to numerous non-capital
          applications for writs of habeas corpus;

      -   Drafting and filing the State's Proposed Order Designating Issues
          and the State's Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
          in connection with multiple non-capital applications for writs of
          habeas corpus.

      -   Preparing the District Attorney's trial file for open file review in
          connection with the following non-capital applications for writs of
          habeas corpus:

             o Ex parte Kevin Bernard Stern;
             o Ex parte Walter Davis;
             o Ex parte Scott Arthur Gardner.

      -   Researching, preparing, and presenting a workshop at the annual
          Crimes Against Children Conference.

      The undersigned was out of the office for several days following the death of

a very close family member on June 19, 2015 and on October 12, 2015 to care for

her child over the Columbus Day school holiday.     The undersigned will also have

to be out of the office on October 22, 2015, November 24, 2015 (half-day), and
November 25-27, 2015 to care for her child over the school and Thanksgiving

holidays.

       Additionally, on October 7, 2015, this Court ordered briefing in connection

with two of the undersigned's assigned writs, Ex parte Anthony Johnson, No. WR-

82,850-01 and -02. The State's brief is due on December 7, 2015.

                                     Appellant's Brief

       Appellant has filed a 160-page brief presenting 67 issues for review

regarding the pre-trial phase (which included a competency trial) and the

punishment phase.       Thirty-six of Appellant's issues concern the selecting and

seating of the jury, therefore a review of the entire voir dire record (including the

lengthy questionnaires) is required in addition to a review of the entire

competency trial as well as the trial on punishment.5            The undersigned is

diligently working to research and brief all issues.

                                                 IV.

       The undersigned has consulted with Appellant's appellate counsel and he

has no objection to the State's request for an abatement or, in the alternative, a 90-

day extension of time to file the State's brief.

                                                  V.

5The reporter's record consists of 72 volumes.
      For all of the foregoing reasons, the State respectfully requests that this

Court abate the instant appeal so that the Clerk's Record may be properly

supplemented.    Should the appeal be abated, the State requests that the deadline

for filing the State's brief be extended thirty days after the filing of the

supplemental clerk's record.     Alternatively, the State requests that the time for

filing the State's brief be extended until January 18, 2016 (ninety days).

                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                    Qm£ ^ffotoSkA
Susan Hawk                                          Christine Womble
Criminal District Attorney                          Assistant District Attorney
Dallas County                                        State Bar No. 24035991
                                                    Frank Crowley Courts Bldg
                                                    133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19
                                                    Dallas, Texas 75207-4399
                                                    (214) 653-3625 phone
                                                    (214) 653 -3643 fax
                                                    CWomble(g>dallascounty.org

                            Certificate of Service

      I certify that a true copy of this motion was served on John Tatum, counsel

for Appellant, 990 South Sherman Street, Richardson, Texas, 75081, via email and

e-service on October 16, 2015.

                                                    Christine Womble

                                                                                  10
EXHIBIT A

            11
                 Susan Hawk
                Criminal District Attorney
                Dallas County, Texas

October 16, 2015

Ms. Felicia Pitre, District Clerk
Dallas County District Clerk's Office
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-12
Dallas, Texas 75207-4300

        Re:     Appellate Cause No. AP-77,047;
                Trial Court Cause No. F86-85539;
                Kenneth Wayne Thomas v. The State of Texas
                 *** DEATH PENALTY CASE ***

Dear Ms. Pitre:

       On July 23, 2014, Kenneth Wayne Thomas was sentenced to death for the capital murder
of Mildred Finch. An appeal of his conviction is currently pending before the Court of Criminal
Appeals.

       On December 23, 2014, the Dallas County District Clerk's Office filed the Clerk's
Record in the Court of Criminal Appeals. This record is incomplete. Please allow this letter to
serve as a request for the Dallas County District Clerk to supplement the record in the
aforementioned cause.

        Rule 34.5(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure provides, in pertinent part, as
follows:

        (a) Contents. Unless the parties designate the filings in the appellate record by
            agreement under Rule 34.2, the record must include copies of the following:

                (2) In criminal cases, the indictment or information, any special plea or
                    defense motion that was presented to the court and overruled, any
                    written waiver, any written stipulation, and, in cases in which a plea of
                    guilty or nolo contendere has been entered, any documents executed
                    for the plea;

                (4) The court's charge and the jury's verdict, or the court's findings of fact
                     and conclusions of law;

Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 North Industrial Boulevard, LB-19 Dallas, Texas 75207-4399   (214) 653-3600
                (6) Any request for findings of fact and conclusions of law, any post-
                    judgment motion, and the court's order on the motion;

Tex. R. App. P. 34.5(a). At a minimum, the existing clerk's record (the record forwarded to the
CCA on 12/23/14) is missing the following documents: multiple motions filed by the defense in
August and September of 2013; and, the court's charge and jury verdict. The existing clerk's
record contains a copy of the July 8, 2014 charge of the court in connection with Thomas'
competency trial, but it does not contain a copy of the court's charge and jury verdict in
connection with Thomas' punishment trial. The existing clerk's record also does not contain
copies of the following motions filed by the defense in August and September 2013:

        •   Motion to require statutorily mandated DNA testing in advance of jury
            selection and trial, subject to waiver of death penalty;
            Defendant's motion for discovery and inspection;
            Motion for discovery and inspection of information necessary to a fair trial;
            Motion in limine (victim impact type evidence);
            Motion to preserve right to file other motions;
            Motion to preclude the death penalty as a sentencing option;
            Motion for discovery of extraneous offenses at punishment;
            Motion for production of impeachment evidence;
            Defendant's motion for discovery of experts;
            Motion for disclosure of any possible basis for judicial qualification or
            recusal;
            Motion to preclude the death penalty as a sentencing option and declare
            Article 37.071 unconstitutional (Jones v. United States; Apprendi v. New
            Jersey and Ring v. Arizona);
            Motion to declare the "10-12 Rule" unconstitutional;
            Motion to declare V.A.C.C.P. 37.071 unconstitutional and for other relief;
            Motion to hold that Tex. C. Crim. P. Art. 37.01 is unconstitutional;
            Motion to declare the Texas capital sentencing scheme unconstitutional and
            motion to preclude imposition of the death penalty;
            Motion to hold unconstitutional V.A.C.C.P. Art. 37.071 Sec. 2(e) and (f) -
            Burden of proof;
            Motion to declare Texas death penalty statute to be unconstitutional (Juror's
            inability to predict future dangerousness);
            Motion to hold unconstitutional V.A.C.C.P. Art. 37.071 Sec. 2(e) and (f) -
            failure to require mitigation be considered;
            Motion for evidence favorable to the defendant;
            Motion to declare the Texas death penalty capital murder scheme
            unconstitutional based on the holding of the Supreme Court of the United
            States in Smith v. Texas;
        •   Motion to preclude the death penalty as a sentencing option and to declare
            Tex. C. Crim. P. 37.071 unconstitutional (Ring v. Arizona);
Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 North Riverfront Boulevard, LB-19 Dallas, Texas 75207-4399 (214) 653-3600
        •   Motion to dismiss the death penalty in the State of Texas on the ground that
            its capital sentencing procedure is unconstitutional due to its failure to meet
            minimum requirements set forth in Furman v. Georgia and its progeny, as
            evinced by the findings of the Capital Jury Project and other research;
        •   Defendant's specially requested motion to declare the defendant is "actually
            innocent" and or in the alternative to declare that he be sentenced to the time
            he has already served in the penitentiary in the interest of justice.

         Rule 34.5(c)(1) provides that "[i]f a relevant item has been omitted from the clerk's
record, the trial court, the appellate court, or any party may by letter direct the trial court clerk to
prepare, certify, and file in the appellate court a supplement containing the omitted item." Tex.
R. App. P. 34.5(c)(1). In accordance with Rule 34.5(c)(1), the undersigned respectfully requests
that the Dallas County District Clerk review its file in the instant cause, locate the
aforementioned documents (and any other relevant filings not listed above), and then prepare and
file with the Court of Criminal Appeals, a supplemental clerk's record.

       Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated. Should you have any questions or
concerns please feel free to contact me via telephone or email.

                                                                  Sincerely,

                                                                  Christine Womble
                                                                  Assistant District Attorney
                                                                  State Bar No. 24035991
                                                                  Frank Crowley Courts Building
                                                                  133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19
                                                                  Dallas, Texas 75207-4399
                                                                  (214)653-3625
                                                                  (214)653-3643 fax
                                                                  CWomblei@dallascoLintv.org

cc:

The Court of Criminal Appeals (via e-filing)
The Hon. Ernest White, Judge of the 194th Judicial District Court (via email)
John Tatum (via email)
Michael Mowla (via email)

Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 North Riverfront Boulevard, LB-19 Dallas, Texas 75207-4399 (214) 653-3600

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