Court Opinion

ID: 7804375
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-29 02:12:18.4001+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:29:50.402107
License: Public Domain

In the Court of Criminal
           Appeals of Texas
                         ══════════
                     NOS. WR-93,889-01 & -02
                         ══════════

            EX PARTE WESLEY NATHANIAL HOLT,
                              Applicant
  ═══════════════════════════════════════
   ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NOS. 24110A & 24464A IN THE 91st DISTRICT COURT
              FROM EASTLAND COUNTY
  ═══════════════════════════════════════

     YEARY, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which KELLER, P.J., and
SLAUGHTER, J., joined.

      In 2015, Applicant was placed on deferred adjudication
community supervision for the offense of possession with intent to
deliver methamphetamine. In 2017, Applicant was placed on deferred
adjudication community supervision for aggravated sexual assault of a
child. In 2018, Applicant’s deferred adjudication community supervision
                                                                      Holt – 2

was revoked in both cases, he was adjudicated guilty of both offenses,
and he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and to 14 years
imprisonment for those offenses, respectively.
       In June of 2022, Applicant filed an application for writ of habeas
corpus in the county of conviction. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 11.07. In
his application, he contends that his pleas in each case were involuntary
because his trial counsel, who were different lawyers in each case,
provided ineffective assistance.
       Today, the Court remands this application to the trial court to
further develop the record. I join the Court’s remand order. But I write
separately to address my thoughts concerning the doctrine of laches and
its possible application to this case. See Ex parte Smith, 444 S.W.3d 661
(Tex. Crim. App. 2014) (holding a trial court has the authority to sua
sponte consider the doctrine of laches); Ex parte Bazille, ___ S.W.3d ___,
No. WR-89,851-02, 2022 WL 108348 (Tex. Crim. App. Jan. 12, 2022)
(Yeary, J., concurring).
       The doctrine of laches ought to be considered in a case like this
one. Applicant’s first plea occurred in 2015, and his second plea occurred
in 2017, but this writ application was not filed until almost 7 years later
in one case and 5 years later in the other. 1 The record is also silent
regarding circumstances that may excuse Applicant’s delay. At least
some explanation for the long delay in filing should be provided.

       1 “Our revised approach will permit courts to more broadly consider the
diminished memories of trial participants and the diminished availability of
the State’s evidence, both of which may often be said to occur beyond five years
after a conviction becomes final.” Ex parte Perez, 398 S.W.3d 206, 216 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2013) (citing Ex parte Steptoe, 132 S.W.3d 434, 437–39 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2004) (Cochran, J., dissenting)).
                                                                   Holt – 3

      Consistent with this Court’s precedent, the trial court “may sua
sponte consider and determine whether laches should bar relief.” Smith,
444 S.W.3d at 667. If the trial court does so, it must give Applicant the
opportunity to explain the reasons for the delay and give the State’s
prosecutors and/or former counsel for Applicant an opportunity to state
whether Applicant’s delay has caused any prejudice to their ability to
defend against Applicant’s claims. Id. at 670. And ultimately, the trial
court may include findings of fact and conclusions of law concerning the
doctrine of laches in its response to this Court’s remand order.
      With these additional thoughts, I join the Court’s order.

FILED:                           August 24, 2022
DO NOT PUBLISH