Court Opinion

ID: 9811750
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:27:54.21403+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:21:18.308847
License: Public Domain

TOM GRAY, Chief Justice,
dissenting opinion to abatement order.
The State filed a notice of appeal in this criminal case. However, no appealable order or judgment was included in the record in this case. On January 17, 2006, the Clerk notified the State by letter that this case was subject to dismissal for want of jurisdiction because of this defect. The State responded with a request to delay the dismissal until the signed order was located. On March 17, 2006, the Clerk again warned the State that the case was subject to dismissal because no appealable order had been made a part of the record. The State has chosen to ignore the Clerk’s warning and filed a brief instead. No appealable order or judgment has been made a part of the record.
Additionally, the State was informed by letter that no filing fee had been paid, and the letter demanded payment of the filing fee. Tex.Code Crim. PROC. Ann. art. 44.01(f) (Vernon Pamp.2005) (the State shall pay all costs of an appeal of an order that dismisses an indictment, information or complaint). The State was also warned that if the filing fee was not paid, the case would be presented to the Court for dismissal. While the majority may be correct in flip-flopping on their prior express authorization for the Clerk to demand the payment, the State completely failed to respond to the demand for payment of the fee.
Further, the State filed a motion for extension of time to file its brief. This motion was not served on the opposing party as required by Rule 9.5. Tex.R.App. P. 9.5
Given the State’s disregard of the rules noted herein, but primarily because there is no final appealable order, I would dismiss this appeal. I would then dismiss the motion for extension of time to file the State’s brief as moot.