Court Opinion

ID: 2851027
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-04 05:10:24.513227+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:34:18.831360
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
                             FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON

                                       ORDER OF ABATEMENT

Appellate case name:       Ex Parte Lee August Ludtke

Appellate case number:     01-15-00719-CR

Trial court case number: 1329042-A

Trial court:               174th District Court of Harris County

        Appellant, Lee August Ludtke, has filed a notice of appeal of the trial court’s “Directive
Order” denying his application for a writ of habeas corpus. We abate the appeal and remand the
cause to the trial court for further proceedings.

        The Clerk of the Court has examined the clerk’s record and found that it does not
comport with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure in that it does not include a copy of the
trial court’s certification of appellant=s right of appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d), 34.5(a)(12),
37.1; see also Ex parte Tarango, 116 S.W.3d 201, 203 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2003, no pet.). This
order constitutes notice to all parties of the defective certification. See TEX. R. APP. P. 37.1.

        Accordingly, the trial court shall immediately conduct a hearing at which a representative
of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and appellant’s counsel, Fred Dahr, shall be
present. Appellant shall also be present for the hearing in person or, if appellant is incarcerated,
at the trial court’s discretion, appellant may participate in the hearing by closed-circuit video
teleconferencing.1

       We direct the trial court to:
           1) execute a certification of appellant’s right to appeal, indicating whether appellant
              has the right to appeal; and
           2) make any other findings and recommendations the trial court deems appropriate.

1      Any such teleconference must use a closed-circuit video teleconferencing system that
       provides for a simultaneous compressed full motion video and interactive communication
       of image and sound between the trial court, appellant, and any attorneys representing the
       State or appellant. On appellant’s request, appellant and her counsel shall be able to
       communicate privately without being recorded or heard by the trial court or the attorney
       representing the State.
See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2), (d), (f), 34.5(a)(12), (c)(2), 37.1. The trial court coordinator shall
set a hearing date and notify the parties. The trial court shall have a court reporter, or court
recorder, record the hearing.

        The trial court clerk is directed to file a supplemental clerk’s record containing (1) the
certification of appellant’s right of appeal, and (2) any other findings, recommendations, or other
orders the trial court deems appropriate. The supplemental clerk’s record shall be filed with this
Court no later than 30 days from the date of this order. See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.5(c)(2).

        The appeal is abated, treated as a closed case, and removed from this Court’s active
docket. The appeal will be reinstated on this Court’s active docket when the supplemental clerk’s
record is filed with the Clerk of this Court.

       It is so ORDERED.

Judge’s signature: /s/ Terry Jennings
                    Acting individually       Acting for the Court

Date: September 3, 2015