Court Opinion

ID: 2898869
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 23:49:31.624388+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:36:56.695552
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-09-0193-CR

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                      AT AMARILLO

                                        PANEL A

                                    AUGUST 20, 2009

                          ______________________________

                      RAFAEL GARCIA QUINONES, APPELLANT

                                            V.

                          THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

                        _________________________________

             FROM THE 108TH DISTRICT COURT OF POTTER COUNTY;

          NO. 57,455-E; HONORABLE DOUGLAS R. WOODBURN, JUDGE

                         _______________________________

Before CAMPBELL and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

                              ABATEMENT AND REMAND

       On May 11, 2009, following a plea of guilty, Appellant, Rafael G. Quinones, was

granted deferred adjudication for possession of a controlled substance and placed on

community supervision for three years. Appellant timely perfected this appeal from the trial

court’s judgment. The Trial Court’s Certification of Defendant’s Right of Appeal, forwarded
to this Court on June 11, 2009, reflects that Appellant does have the right of appeal. No

motion for new trial having been filed, the appellate record was due on July 10, 2009.1

See Tex. R. App. P. 35.2 (a).

        Pending before this Court is a request for an extension of time filed by the Potter

County District Clerk in which to file the clerk’s record. As the sole ground for the

extension, the clerk avers that “THERE IS NOT A COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY

ASSIGNED ON THIS CASE.” The Docketing Statement (Criminal) filed by Appellant

indicates that his appellate counsel is appointed.

        The trial court clerk is responsible for preparing, certifying, and timely filing the

clerk’s record if: (1) a notice of appeal has been filed, and in criminal proceedings, the trial

court has certified the defendant’s right of appeal; and, (2) the party responsible for paying

for the preparation of the clerk’s record has paid the clerk’s fee, has made satisfactory

arrangements with the clerk to pay the fee, or is entitled to appeal without paying the fee.

See Tex. R. App. P. 35.3 (a). From the limited record before us, we are unable to

determine whether Appellant has satisfied the second requirement of Rule 35.3(a).

Although the basis of the clerk’s request for an extension of time does not state an

adequate ground for relief,2 we will interpret the same as requesting an extension based

upon the failure of Appellant’s appellate counsel to make adequate financial arrangements

        1
            The reporter’s record was filed on July 10, 2009.

        2
        The duty of the trial court clerk to prepare, certify and tim ely file the clerk’s record does not depend
on whether or not an appellant is represented by counsel - retained, appointed, or otherwise.

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for the payment or waiver of the clerk’s fee, and we will grant that request in accordance

with the following orders.

       Therefore, we abate this appeal and remand the cause to the trial court for further

proceedings. Upon remand, the trial court shall utilize whatever means necessary to

determine the following:

       1.     whether Appellant desires to prosecute this appeal; and
       2.     whether Appellant has paid the clerk’s fee, made satisfactory
              arrangements for the payment of the clerk’s fee, or is entitled to
              appeal without paying the fee.

       On or before August 31, 2009, the trial court shall enter an order containing findings

of fact and conclusions of law addressing those issues. In addition, upon the filing of that

order, the trial court shall cause a copy thereof to be mailed to this court. Should the trial

court determine that Appellant does want to continue the appeal, the trial court shall take

such action as is necessary to ensure that the clerk’s record in this cause is filed on or

before September 7, 2009.

       In the event the clerk’s record is not filed by that date, the trial court is directed to

immediately cause notice of a hearing to be given and, thereafter, conduct a hearing to

determine the status of the record. On or before September 21, 2009, the trial court shall

enter an order containing findings of fact and conclusions of law addressing that issue. In

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addition, upon the filing of that order, the trial court shall cause a copy thereof to be mailed

to this Court.

       It is so ordered.

                                                   Per Curiam

Do not publish.

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