Court Opinion

ID: 2872231
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-06 04:08:09.524367+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:31:53.639152
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-05-00395-CR

The State of Texas, Appellant

v.

Billy Moore, Appellee

FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 7 OF TRAVIS COUNTY
NO. 679565, HONORABLE ELISABETH EARLE, JUDGE PRESIDING

M E M O R A N D U M   O P I N I O N
 
The State appeals the county court at law’s order granting appellee Billy Moore’s
amended motion for new trial.  Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 44.01(a)(3) (West Supp. 2005). 
Because we agree that the court was not authorized to grant the motion, we will reverse the order.
A jury found Moore guilty of driving while intoxicated, for which the court assessed
a 100-day term of incarceration.  See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 49.04 (West 2003).  Sentence was
imposed on March 22, 2005.  On March 23, Moore’s trial counsel filed a motion for new trial urging
that the verdict was contrary to the law and the evidence.  On the same day, counsel’s motion to
withdraw was granted and a new attorney was appointed for appeal.
On May 13, fifty-two days after sentencing, Moore’s new attorney filed an amended
motion for new trial together with a motion for leave to amend.  The amended motion for new trial
alleged that the State failed to disclose material evidence to the defense and challenged the
constitutionality of the city ordinance on which the stop leading to Moore’s arrest was based.  The
amended motion was not supported by affidavit.  On May 20, Moore’s second amended motion for
new trial was filed together with a second motion for leave to amend.  The second amended motion
was substantially identical to the first but was supported by affidavits.  The court granted the second
motion for leave to amend on the day it was filed.  Following a hearing on June 3, the court granted
the second amended motion for new trial on the failure to disclose ground only.
A motion for new trial must be filed no later than thirty days after sentence is imposed
in open court.  Tex. R. App. P. 21.4(a).  “[A] defendant may, without leave of court, file one or more
amended motions for new trial” within the same thirty-day period if the trial court has not acted on
the original motion.  Tex. R. App. P. 21.4(b).  A motion for new trial cannot be amended after thirty
days, even with leave of the court.  Dugard v. State, 688 S.W.2d 524, 530 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985),
overruled on other grounds, Williams v. State, 780 S.W.2d 802, 803 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989);
Prudhomme v. State, 28 S.W.3d 114, 118 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2000) (order); Belton v. State, 900
S.W.2d 886, 902 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1995, pet. ref’d); Groh v. State, 725 S.W.2d 282, 285 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1986, pet. ref’d).  The phrase “without leave of court” in rule 21.4(b)
simply means that there is no limitation on the right to amend a motion for new trial within the
thirty-day period.  Dugard, 688 S.W.2d at 530; see Kalteyer v. Sneed, 837 S.W.2d 848, 850-51 (Tex.
App.—Austin 1992, no writ) (construing substantially similar civil rule).
An untimely motion or amended motion for new trial is a nullity and does not invoke
the trial court’s jurisdiction.  Breathard v. State, 767 S.W.2d 423, 433 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989); Drew
v. State, 743 S.W.2d 207, 222-23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987); Kiser v. State, 788 S.W.2d 909, 915 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 1990, pet. ref’d).  Although Moore’s original motion for new trial was timely, it did
not raise the contentions he sought to raise in his untimely amended motions.  At a hearing on a
motion for new trial, the defendant may offer evidence only on those grounds that are alleged in the
motion.  Trout v. State, 702 S.W.2d 618, 620 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985).
The trial court did not grant Moore’s timely original motion for new trial and was not
authorized to consider the untimely second amended motion for new trial.  The State’s first point of
error is sustained.  We need not address points of error two and three.
The order granting Moore’s second amended motion for new trial is overruled and
the cause is remanded to the trial court.
 
 
                                                ___________________________________________
                                                David Puryear, Justice
Before Justices B. A. Smith, Patterson and Puryear
Reversed and Remanded
Filed:   January 19, 2006
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