Court Opinion

ID: 9324470
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-12-12 00:13:29.685446+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:14:54.969350
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                        OF TEXAS
                                       NO. WR-94,103-01

                      EX PARTE JASON DARNELL PAGE, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                 CAUSE NO. 861203-A IN THE 182ND DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM HARRIS COUNTY

     Per curiam. YEARY , J. filed a concurring opinion in which SLAUGHTER , J. joined.
NEWELL, J. concurred.

                                            ORDER

       Applicant was convicted of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and sentenced to

twenty-five years’ imprisonment. The Applicant did not file a direct appeal. Applicant filed this

application for a writ of habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk forwarded

it to this Court. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07.

       This application was file-stamped in Harris County on July 18, 2011. An order designating

issues was signed by the trial judge on July 26, 2011. The district clerk forwarded this application

to this Court under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 73.4(b)(5). However, the application was

forwarded over ten years after issuing the order and this application was not received by this Court
until September 2, 2022. It appears the trial court issued an Order to Conduct Hearing by Video

Teleconferencing on April 27, 2022, but there is no other indication in the record of any action by

the trial court after the order designating issues was signed. Nor is there any indication as to why

this application was pending in Harris County for so long without any action by the clerk or the trial

court.

         Applicant contends, among other things, that his trial counsel was ineffective for 1) failing

to inform the applicant of his rights to appeal the conviction, 2) failing to assist the applicant with

the appeal even though counsel knew the applicant wanted to pursue an appeal, and 3) failing to

inform the applicant of the deadlines for filing an appeal, causing the applicant to be denied the

opportunity to be heard on the appellate level. Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle

him to relief. Ex parte Axel, 757 S.W.2d 369 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988); Jones v. State, 98 S.W.3d 700

(Tex. Crim. App. 2003). Accordingly, the record should be developed. The trial court is the

appropriate forum for findings of fact. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC . art. 11.07, § 3(d). Therefore, we

remand this application to the trial court to complete its evidentiary investigation and make findings

of fact and conclusions of law.

         The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law within ninety days from

the date of this order. The district clerk shall then immediately forward to this Court the trial court’s

findings and conclusions and the record developed on remand, including, among other things,

affidavits, motions, objections, proposed findings and conclusions, orders, and transcripts from

hearings and depositions. See Tex. R. App. P. 73.4(b)(4). Any extensions of time must be requested

by the trial court and obtained from this Court.

         As a preliminary matter, the trial court shall make findings of fact as to why no action was

taken by the trial court or the clerk between the entry of the order designating issues and the
forwarding of the application to this Court. The trial court shall obtain a response from Applicant

as to whether Applicant still wants to pursue this application, and shall include that response in the

supplemental record. If the trial court is unable to obtain such a response from Applicant, the trial

court shall detail the efforts that were made to obtain a response from Applicant. The trial court shall

then return the application to this Court.

        According to the State Bar of Texas, trial counsel is deceased. If Applicant indicates that he

does want to pursue this application, or if the trial court is unable to obtain a response from

Applicant as to whether he wants to pursue the application, the trial court shall determine whether

counsel’s file from this case is available for inspection. In developing the record, the trial court may

use any means set out in Article 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 wants to be represented by

counsel, the trial court shall appoint counsel to represent him at the hearing. See TEX . CODE CRIM .

PROC. art. 26.04. If counsel is appointed or retained, the trial court shall immediately notify this

Court of counsel’s name.

        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether Applicant

was denied his right to an appeal because trial counsel failed to timely file a notice of appeal. The

trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether trial counsel was

ineffective for failing to properly advise Applicant on the appeal process. The trial court may make

any other findings and conclusions that it deems appropriate in response to Applicant’s claims.

        The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law within ninety days from

the date of this order. The district clerk shall then immediately forward to this Court the trial court’s

findings and conclusions and the record developed on remand, including, among other things,

affidavits, motions, objections, proposed findings and conclusions, orders, and transcripts from
hearings and depositions. See TEX . R. APP . P. 73.4(b)(4). Any extensions of time must be requested

by the trial court and obtained from this Court.

Filed: DECEMBER 07, 2022
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