Court Opinion

ID: 2870999
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-06 03:54:15.651147+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:30:54.882481
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                       NO. 03-06-00230-CR

                                  In re Johnny Wayne White, II

      FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BELL COUNTY, 264TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
          NO. 47,692, HONORABLE MARTHA J. TRUDO, JUDGE PRESIDING

                             MEMORANDUM OPINION

               In February 1998, Johnny Wayne White, II was sentenced to twenty years in prison

following his conviction for aggravated robbery. On March 13, 2006, White filed a pro se motion

for appointment of counsel for the purpose of requesting forensic DNA testing. See Tex. Code Crim.

Proc. Ann. art. 64.01(c) (West Supp. 2005). On March 24, 2006, the district court signed an “order

dismissing DNA testing motion.” White filed a pro se notice of appeal, after which the trial court

appointed counsel to represent White on the appeal.

               In its order, the trial court found that White failed to identify the evidence to be tested

or to submit a supporting affidavit. See id. art. 64.01(a), (b). But the motion before the court was

not a motion for testing for which the missing items are requisites; it is a request for appointed

counsel to prepare and file a motion for testing. The order prematurely dismisses—in effect,

denies—a motion for DNA testing that has not yet been filed. The order does not rule on the motion

for counsel.
               The “order dismissing DNA testing motion” is reversed and the cause is remanded

to the district court for further proceedings.

                                                 __________________________________________

                                                 Jan P. Patterson, Justice

Before Chief Justice Law, Justices Patterson and Pemberton

Reversed and Remanded

Filed: September 20, 2006

Do Not Publish

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