Court Opinion

ID: 3094055
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 04:19:10.138555+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:46:53.931520
License: Public Domain

The State of TexasAppellee/s

                                Fourth Court of Appeals
                                        San Antonio, Texas
                                                August 8, 2014

                                            No. 04-08-00358-CR

                                          Adam Jay GONZALES,
                                                Appellant

                                                        v.

                                         THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                               Appellee

                      From the 216th Judicial District Court, Kerr County, Texas
                                      Trial Court No. A05-467
                            Honorable Stephen B. Ables, Judge Presiding

                                                ORDER
Sitting:         Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice
                 Marialyn Barnard, Justice
                 Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice

        Appellant’s conviction was affirmed by this court on March 18, 2009, and our mandate
issued on May 21, 2009. On July 23, 2014, appellant filed a motion to obtain a free record so
that he could prepare a writ of habeas corpus. In an order dated July 29, 2014, this court stated
that an indigent defendant ordinarily is not entitled to a free copy of his trial transcript for
purposes of filing a postconviction habeas application. In re Strickhausen, 994 S.W.2d 936, 937
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, orig. proceeding). A free record is available for that
purpose only if the defendant shows the habeas corpus application is not frivolous and there is a
specific need for the trial records that are sought. In re Coronado, 980 S.W.2d 691, 693 (Tex.
App.—San Antonio 1998, orig. proceeding). We denied appellant’s motion because he had not
made any such showing here.

        On August 4, 2014, appellant filed a pro se “Petition of Objection In Accordance With
Rule 68.9 of [the] Texas Rules of Appellant [sic] Procedure.” 1 In his motion, appellant
acknowledges receipt of our July 29, 2014 order, and he now requests a free record of his trial
court proceedings pursuant to the Texas Open Records Act.

1 Rule 68 governs proceedings before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Rule 68.9 provides as follows: “The
opposing party has 15 days after the timely filing of the petition in the Court of Criminal Appeals to file a reply
petition with the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals.” TEX. R. APP. P. 68.9.
       An indigent criminal defendant is not entitled to a free clerk’s record or reporter’s record
once he has exhausted his state appeals, absent some compelling, recognized reason. See In re
Strickhausen, 994 S.W.2d at 937. Appellant’s motion and the record before us do not
demonstrate a compelling, recognized reason. Neither federal due process nor equal protection
requires the State to furnish a free record to an indigent prisoner. See United States v.
MacCollom, 426 U.S. 317 (1976); Escobar v. State, 880 S.W.2d 782, 783-84 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, no pet.). Nor is an indigent criminal defendant entitled to a free clerk’s
record or reporter’s record under the Texas Open Records Act. See In re Handy, No. 01-00-
01059-CV, 2000 WL 1511711, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] October 12, 2000, orig.
proceeding) (not designated for publication); see also Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. §§ 552.003(1)(B)
(“governmental body” “does not include the judiciary”) (West Supp. 2014), 552.0035(a)
(“Access to information collected, assembled, or maintained by or for the judiciary is governed
by rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Texas or by other applicable laws and rules.”),
552.261 (“Charge for Providing Copies of Public Information”) (West 2012).

       Therefore, we DENY appellant’s motion.

                                                     _________________________________
                                                     Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
court on this 8th day of August, 2014.

                                                     ___________________________________
                                                     Keith E. Hottle
                                                     Clerk of Court