Court Opinion

ID: 2899586
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-09 00:10:40.435158+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:42.151163
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-08-0315-CR

                                    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                            FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                             AT AMARILLO

                                                PANEL D

                                       MARCH 17, 2009
                               ______________________________

                                  ANTHONY G. HEREFORD JR.,

                                                                          Appellant

                                                     v.

                                       THE STATE OF TEXAS,

                                                           Appellee
                             _________________________________

                FROM THE 140TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;

                  NO. 2007-416,858; HON. JIM BOB DARNELL, PRESIDING
                           _______________________________

                                   Abatement for New Counsel
                               _______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and PIRTLE, JJ.

       After a jury trial, Anthony Hereford (appellant) was convicted of the offense of

possession of a controlled substance. Punishment was assessed by the jury at fifty years

in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division. Appellant timely filed his

notice of appeal.

       Appellant’s appointed counsel filed a motion to withdraw, together with an Anders1

brief, wherein he certifies that, after diligently searching the record, he concluded that the

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           See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744-45, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967).
appeal is without merit. Along with his brief, he filed a copy of a letter sent to appellant

informing him of counsel’s belief that there was no reversible error and of appellant’s right

to appeal pro se. By letter dated January 6, 2009, this court notified appellant of his right

to file his own brief or response by February 5, 2009, if he wished to do so. To date,

appellant has not filed a response.

       After conducting our own independent review of the record, we abate the cause and

remand the proceeding for the appointment of new counsel. Appellant contended at trial

that his Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure was

violated due to excessive force used in obtaining contraband from his mouth. Furthermore,

the trial court refused to allow an expert to testify on the matter of when force becomes

excessive and the reasonable use of tasers. So too did it omit an instruction to the jury

regarding exclusion of the evidence purportedly garnered through the use of excessive

force. These matters implicate the United States and Texas Constitutions and appear

rather novel under Texas jurisprudence. While we make no comment upon their ultimate

merit, they nonetheless pose arguable issues for appellate review. Thus, we do not accept

appellate counsel’s representation concerning the merits of the appeal.

       Accordingly, we abate the appeal and remand the cause to the 140th District Court

of Lubbock County, Texas. See Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex. Crim. App.

1991). Upon remand, the trial court shall appoint an attorney (other than appellant’s

current attorney) to represent appellant in this appeal. Irrespective of who is ultimately

appointed, the attorney must possess sufficient ability and experience to represent

appellant in the matters before the court. See Rayson v. State, 267 S.W.2d 153, 156 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1954); TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC . ANN . art. 26.04(d) (Vernon 2009) (requiring the

court to appoint an attorney who meets applicable qualifications specified by the Task

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Force on Indigent Defense along with those established by the judges of the county of

appointment). And, given the novelty of the potential issues involved, we respectfully ask

the trial court to consider the candidate’s experience with and education in the law of

search and seizure when making its selection.

       The trial court shall further order the newly appointed counsel to file an appellant’s

brief, as per the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, developing the aforementioned

arguable grounds, and all other grounds that might support reversal or modification of the

judgment. The deadline for filing the appellant’s brief with the clerk of this appellate court

is June 1, 2009. Thereafter, any responding brief which the State may care to submit shall

be filed within 30 days after the filing of the appellant’s brief.

       Next, the trial court shall cause the name, address, and state bar number of the

newly appointed counsel to be included in a supplemental transcript. That transcript shall

be filed by the trial court with the clerk of this court on or before April 6, 2009.

       Finally, solely because the opinion expressed by appellant’s currently appointed

attorney could be viewed as creating a conflict of interest, we grant his motion to withdraw.

However, nothing herein should be considered as a comment on counsel’s ability and

experience.

       It is so ordered.

                                                           Per Curiam

Do not publish.

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