Court Opinion

ID: 3116297
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 07:41:03.177851+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:27:02.879148
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
                            FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON

                                              ORDER

Appellate case name:      Michael Pullen v. The State of Texas

Appellate case number:    01-12-00968-CR

Trial court case number: 1810704

Trial court:              County Criminal Court at Law No. 8 of Harris County

        Appellant, Michael Pullen, was sentenced for the offense of driving while intoxicated on
August 24, 2012. Although Pullen was represented by appointed counsel at trial, he filed a pro
se notice of appeal. The notice of appeal, which was file-stamped in the trial-court clerk’s office
on October 2, 2012, contains a postmark date of September 28, 2012—four days after the
deadline to file his notice of appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 4.1(a), 9.2(b), 26.2(a)(1). Nevertheless,
as indicated in our previous order, the record is unclear as to whether the notice of appeal was
timely filed pursuant to the “prisoner mailbox rule.”1 See Campbell v. State, 320 S.W.3d 338,
342 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). On July 17, 2013, we directed the trial court to appoint counsel to
represent Pullen for purposes of appeal, because Pullen is entitled to the assistance of counsel in
responding to this Court’s jurisdictional notice. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. arts. 1.051(a),
(c), (d)(1), 26.04(j)(2) (West Supp. 2012). Pullen is entitled to be represented by counsel on
appeal unless he voluntarily and intelligently waives the right to counsel. See TEX. CODE CRIM.
PROC. art. 1.051(a), (f) (West Supp. 2012).

        On June 24, 2013, Pullen filed a “Request to Withdraw Appeal” in the trial court, stating
that he “do[es] not wish to fu[r]ther prosecute this appeal and request[s] that the notice of appeal
be withdrawn.”2 On July 19, 2013, the trial court forwarded Pullen’s request to our Court.
       Pullen has the right to waive his right to appeal. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 1.14
(West 2005); Ex parte Broadway, 301 S.W.3d 694, 697 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Any waiver,

1
       The notice of appeal was mailed from the Harris County Jail and does not contain a
       certificate of service or any other date.
2
       The document reflects that the trial court granted Pullen’s request to withdraw his appeal
       and dismissed the appeal.
however, must be made voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. See Broadway, 301 S.W.3d at
697; Ex parte Tabor, 565 S.W.2d 945, 946 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978).

       The record is unclear as to whether Pullen is voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently
waiving his right to appeal. Pullen’s pro se request to withdraw his appeal was filed
approximately two weeks after the trial court informed him that he had no right to appeal and
“denied” his appeal. Pullen has not been afforded the opportunity to seek advice from counsel
regarding his appeal, the potential jurisdiction of this court, or the effects of waiving his appeal.

        Accordingly, we ORDER the trial court to appoint counsel to represent Pullen on appeal.
We further ORDER the trial court to hold a hearing to determine whether Pullen wishes to
pursue his appeal, after consultation with his counsel. Pullen shall be represented by counsel at
the hearing. The hearing shall take place within 30 days of the date of this order. If Pullen
chooses to proceed with the appeal, appellate counsel shall file a response to this Court’s
jurisdictional notice within 15 days after the completion of the trial court hearing. This appeal
remains abated and will be reinstated when the record of the trial court hearing is filed in this
Court.

       It is so ORDERED.

Judge’s signature: /s/ Jane Bland
                    Acting individually      Acting for the Court

Date: July 31, 2013