Court Opinion

ID: 2950866
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 06:50:13.948948+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:48.803824
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                          OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-82,430-01

                  EX PARTE SHANE JERMAINE MATTHEWS, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                CAUSE NO. 10824JD-HC-1 IN THE 1ST DISTRICT COURT
                              FROM JASPER COUNTY

        Per curiam.

                                              ORDER

        Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the

clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court this application for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of capital murder

and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Thirteenth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction in

Matthews v. State, No. 13-12-00051-CR (Tex. App.—Edinburg–Corpus Christi July 25, 2013)(not

designated for publication).

        Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. Applicant has

alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984);
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Ex parte Patterson, 993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). In these circumstances,

additional facts are needed. As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1960), the trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court shall order

trial counsel to respond to Applicant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court may

use any means set out in TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d).

        If the trial court elects to hold a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent.

If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an

attorney to represent Applicant at the hearing. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.

        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether counsel: (1)

failed to file a motion to sever thereby allowing the admittance of evidence that would be prejudicial

to Applicant if tried along with his co-defendants; and, (2) failed to object to a letter (State’s Exhibit

#64) without redacting instructions concerning Applicant’s co-defendants. The trial court shall also

make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether the performance of Applicant’s trial

counsel was deficient and, if so, whether counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced Applicant. The

trial court shall also make any other findings of fact and conclusions of law that it deems relevant

and appropriate to the disposition of Applicant’s claim for habeas corpus relief.

        This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues. The

issues shall be resolved within 90 days of this order. A supplemental transcript containing all

affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court reporter’s notes from any hearing or

deposition, along with the trial court’s supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall

be forwarded to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall

be obtained from this Court.
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Filed: January 14, 2015
Do not publish