Court Opinion

ID: 4261849
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-06 10:49:08.673447+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:59.132368
License: Public Domain

IN THE
                          TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

                                 No. 10-17-00397-CV
                                 No. 10-17-00398-CV

                                    EX PARTE J.K.

                           From the 21st District Court
                             Burleson County, Texas
                         Trial Court Nos. 28,726 & 28,727

                          MEMORANDUM OPINION

      J.K. filed a petition to expunge criminal records of his arrest on May 13, 2010 for

the offenses of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous drug, and

possession of prohibited weapons. On August 18, 2017, the trial court entered an order

granting J.K.’s request for an expunction. The Texas Department of Public Safety filed

a restricted appeal of the trial court’s order. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(c); 30. We reverse

and remand.

      The Department argues in its second issue that J.K. failed to present legally

sufficient evidence that he was entitled to an expunction. The record shows that J.K.
filed a motion for expunction pursuant to Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal

Procedure. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. ch. 55 (West Supp. 2017). The Department

filed an answer but did not appear at the hearing on J.K.'s motion, participate in the

hearing, or file any post- judgment motions or a request for findings of fact.

        Pursuant to Rules 26.1(c) and 30 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the

Department may prevail in a restricted appeal only if it meets the following requirements:

        (1) it filed notice of the restricted appeal within six months after the
        judgment was signed; (2) it was a party to the underlying lawsuit; (3) it did
        not participate in the hearing that resulted in the judgment complained of
        and did not timely file any postjudgment motions or requests for findings
        of fact and conclusions of law; and (4) error is apparent on the face of the
        record.

 Ins. Co. of the State of Pa. v. Lejeune, 297 S.W.3d 254, 255 (Tex. 2009); TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(c);

 30. Only the fourth requirement is at issue in this appeal.

        There is no reporter’s record from any hearing held by the trial court. The trial

court’s order states that J.K. appeared through counsel and that no other party appeared.

J.K. had the burden to produce evidence that he was entitled to an expunction. See Texas

Department of Public Safety v. Borhani, No. 03-08-00142-CV, 2008 Tex.App. LEXIS 7509

(Tex.App. – Austin 2008, no pet.). There is no evidence in the record to support the trial

court’s finding. J.K.’s counsel filed a motion to withdraw indicating that J.K. does not

wish to contest the appeal and does not wish to retain counsel’s services to respond to

the appeal. We sustain the Department’s second issue on appeal. We need not address

the Department’s first, third, or fourth issues. TEX.R.APP.P. 47.1.

Ex parte J.K.                                                                                Page 2
                                      Conclusion

        We reverse the trial court’s judgments and remand for further proceedings.

Counsel’s motion to withdraw is granted.

                                             AL SCOGGINS
                                             Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray,
       Justice Davis, and
       Justice Scoggins
Reversed and remanded; motion granted
Opinion delivered and filed April 4, 2018
[CV06]

Ex parte J.K.                                                                Page 3