Court Opinion

ID: 6342986
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-05-23 07:18:12.4065+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:38:40.769208
License: Public Domain

In the Court of Criminal
           Appeals of Texas
                        ══════════
               Nos. WR-93,762-01 & WR-93,762-02
                        ══════════

          EX PARTE RANDY DORRELL BRUMFIELD,
                              Applicant
   ═══════════════════════════════════════
         On Applications for Writs of Habeas Corpus
       Cause Nos. W13-62259-T(A) & W13-62165-T(A)
       In the 283rd District Court from Dallas County
   ═══════════════════════════════════════

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

      Applicant pled guilty in 2015 to two aggravated robbery offenses
and was sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment for each offense, to
run concurrently. The Fifth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction in
2016. Brumfield v. State, No. 05-15-00927-CR & 05-15-00926-CR (Tex.
App.—Dallas Mar. 7, 2016) (mem. op., not designated for publication).
                                                            BRUMFIELD – 2

         In March 2022, Applicant filed these applications for writs of
habeas corpus in the county of conviction. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art.
11.07. In his applications, he alleges multiple claims including
ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, actual
innocence, lack of competency, insufficient evidence, and trial court
error.
         Today, the Court remands these applications 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 trial occurred in 2015, but these writ applications were
not filed until over six and a half years later. The record is also silent so
far regarding circumstances that may excuse Applicant’s delay, and at
least some explanation for the long delay in filing should be provided.
         Consistent with this Court’s precedent, the trial court may, sua
sponte, give Applicant the opportunity to explain the reasons for the
delay. It may also 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.1 And

        “Our revised approach will permit courts to more broadly consider the
         1

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
                                                          BRUMFIELD – 3

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:                                    May 18, 2022
DO NOT PUBLISH

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)).