Court Opinion

ID: 2897515
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 00:58:43.758099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:22:07.451054
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-08-0032-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL C

APRIL 8, 2008

______________________________

GERALD BROWN, APPELLANT

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

_________________________________

FROM THE 362ND DISTRICT COURT OF DENTON COUNTY;

NO. F-2007-0448-D; HONORABLE BRUCE MCFARLING, JUDGE

_______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

ABATEMENT AND REMAND

Appellant, Gerald Brown, was convicted by a jury of theft, enhanced, and punishment was assessed at sixteen years confinement.  He filed a notice of appeal challenging his conviction.  The clerk’s record filed on April 1, 2008, contains the 
Trial Court’s Certification of Defendant’s Right of Appeal.
  However, the certification is not signed by Appellant as required by Rule 25.2(d) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
(footnote: 1)  Neither does the form comply with the Rule.
(footnote: 2)
	Consequently, we abate this appeal and remand this cause to the trial court for further proceedings.  Upon remand, the trial court shall utilize whatever means necessary to secure a proper 
Certification of Defendant’s Right of Appeal 
in compliance with Rule 25.2(d).  Once properly completed and executed, the certification shall be included in a supplemental clerk’s record.  
See
 Tex. R. App. P. 34.5(c)(2).
  The trial court shall cause this supplemental clerk's record
 to be filed with the Clerk of this Court by May 23, 2008.
 This order constitutes notice to all parties, pursuant to Rule 37.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, of the defective certification.  If a supplemental clerk’s record containing a proper certification is not filed in accordance with this order, this matter will be referred to the Court for dismissal.  
See 
Tex. R. App. P. 25.2(d). 

Also pending before this Court is the Court Reporter’s letter indicating that no action has been taken regarding preparation of the Reporter’s Record because she has not received a designation of record pursuant to Rule 34.6(b)(1) and arrangements for payment have not been made as required by Rule 35.3(b)(3).  A review of the Clerk’s Record reveals that a designation of record has been made.  Appellant’s counsel is ordered to certify to this Court, on or before April 28, 2008, whether satisfactory arrangements for payment of the reporter’s fee have been made.  Failure to comply with the Court’s directive may result in the appeal being abated a second time and the cause remanded to determine why Appellant is being deprived of a Reporter’s Record.  
See
 Tex. R. App. P. 37.3(a)(2). 

It is so ordered.

Per Curiam

Do not publish.

FOOTNOTES
1:Effective September 1, 2007, Rule 25.2(d) was amended.  Rule 25.2(d) now requires that a defendant sign the certification and receive a copy.  Additionally, the form provides certain admonishments to a defendant not previously required.

2:The proper form for 
Certification of Defendant’s Right of Appeal
 is contained in Appendix D to the 2008 Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.