Court Opinion

ID: 2942156
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-15 23:27:43.109825+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:19:36.887349
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

NO. WR-70,510-01

EX PARTE JUAN EDWARD CASTILLO

ON NOTICE OF NO APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
FILED IN CAUSE NO. 2004-CR-1461A

IN THE 186TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

BEXAR COUNTY

Per Curiam.  

O R D E R

	This case is before us because the trial court notified this Court that no application for
writ of habeas corpus has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Texas Code of Criminal
Procedure Article 11.071. (1)
	On September 9, 2005, the trial court appointed Suzanne Kramer to represent
applicant in a post-conviction writ of habeas corpus under Article 11.071.  On October 27,
2006, the State filed in this Court its brief on applicant's direct appeal.  Pursuant to Article
11.071, § 4(a), counsel should have filed applicant's application for writ of habeas corpus
in the convicting court no later than December 11, 2006.  If a motion for extension was
timely filed and granted, then applicant's application would have been due in the convicting
court no later than March 12, 2007.  Art. 11.071, § 4(b).  
	In August 2008, it was brought to the attention of this Court that no application had
been filed on applicant's behalf.  Pursuant to Article 11.071, § 4A, because it was well past
the statutory due date and the district clerk had no record that an application had been filed,
we ordered Kramer to file an affidavit with this Court setting out good cause for her failure
to timely file the application.  
	In her affidavit, counsel admitted that she misunderstood the law, and that her
misunderstanding caused her to file applicant's application several months late.  However,
she assured this Court that she did file an application on applicant's behalf on September 29,
2007.  As proof of the filing, Kramer included with her affidavit an unsigned copy of the
application she claimed to have filed.  Also attached to the affidavit was a copy of a
September 29, 2007, postage receipt and a copy of an envelope with a mail stamp of "11
OCT 2007 PM," a return address of the 186th Judicial District Court, and the name "Juan
Castillo" hand written above the return address.  In her affidavit, Kramer asserted that the
postage receipt showed that she mailed the Castillo writ application to the trial court in
September 2007, and the envelope showed that the trial court received the application in
October 2007.  The problem was that the district clerk of Bexar County still showed no
record that an application was filed in the Castillo case, timely or not.
	Noting the conflicting information, this Court issued a second order on October 1,
2008, in which it ordered Kramer to produce a second affidavit resolving the discrepancies. 
In her second affidavit, Kramer reminded this Court that "[i]ncluded in my initial response
was a copy of the receipt from the post office indicating the mailing on September 29, 2007
and a copy of the return envelope, indicating receipt of the Writ by the 186th Judicial District
Court."  However, other than the handwritten notation of "Castillo" on both of these papers,
and Kramer's sworn statement that these pertain to her mailing the Castillo application to the
trial court, there is no actual proof that the Castillo writ was filed.  None-the-less, this Court
took Kramer at her word and issued an order on March 18, 2009, giving her ten days to re-file the already completed writ application.  Again, Kramer has failed to fulfill her duties in
this case.
	Because Kramer has failed to show good cause for the untimely filing of the
application, and because she has failed to re-file the application as ordered, we find counsel
to be in contempt of this Court.  Kramer is ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $250.00 in
this case.  Further, should Bexar County have any outstanding claims from Kramer for
attorney's fees in this case, they shall not be paid.  Additionally, we are forwarding a copy
of this order to the Chief Disciplinary Counsel of the State Bar of Texas. 
	John Economidy is appointed to represent applicant and to file a writ of habeas corpus
on applicant's behalf.  Counsel is ordered to file the application in the trial court on or before
the 270th day from the date of this order.  Should the application that was allegedly filed in
September 2007 ultimately be discovered, it shall be dismissed and not considered for any
purpose.
	IT IS SO ORDERED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF APRIL, 2009.

Do Not Publish
1.   Unless otherwise indicated all references to Articles refer to the Code of
Criminal Procedure.