Court Opinion

ID: 3119564
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 08:22:08.827751+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:20:12.454624
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
                             FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON

                                               ORDER

Appellate case name:       William Nugent v. The State of Texas

Appellate case number:     01-12-00234-CR

Trial court case number: 1281254

Trial court:               208th District Court of Harris County

        The reporter’s record in this case was due originally due on March 30, 2012. On April 6,
2012, we granted the court reporter’s, Brenda Burleigh’s, motion for an extension, and required
that the record be filed by May 29, 2012. We have since been informed that the court reporter
passed away prior to filing the transcript of the hearing. Nevertheless, appellant requested that
the reporter’s record be filed and we have a duty to ensure that the appellate record is timely
filed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 35.3(b), (c).
        Consequently, we abate the appeal and remand the cause to the trial court for further
proceedings. The trial court shall immediately appoint a deputy court reporter to review any
existing notes or transcription of the proceedings created by Brenda Burleigh and to review any
tape recordings or other records of the proceedings, to determine whether the transcription of the
proceedings and the exhibits can be prepared and certified. See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.6(a)(1),
35.3(b). Further, after providing the deputy reporter with sufficient time to review the existing
notes or transcription and recordings, which shall not exceed 20 days,1 the trial court shall
conduct a hearing at which the appointed reporter, the appellant, appellant’s counsel, and a
representative of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office shall be present. Appellant shall
be present for the hearing in person or, if appellant is incarcerated, at the trial court’s discretion,
appellant may participate in the hearing by closed-circuit video teleconferencing.2

1      The court reporter must review the record during this period in a manner to determine if
       the reporter’s record can be prepared and certified, but need not prepare or certify the
       record until ordered to do so after a hearing in the trial court.

2      Any such teleconference must use a closed-circuit video teleconferencing system that
       provides for a simultaneous compressed full motion video and interactive communication
       of image and sound between the trial court, appellant, and any attorneys representing the
       State or appellant. On request of appellant, appellant and any counsel appellant may have
       shall be able to communicate privately without being recorded or heard by the trial court
       We direct the trial court to:
       (1) Determine whether Brenda Burleigh’s notes or transcription of the proceedings can be
           located;
       (2) If so, determine whether the notes or transcription can be certified, or whether they
           can be edited and/or completed and then certified using tape recordings of the
           proceedings;
       (3) If so, order the deputy court reporter previously appointed to prepare the reporter’s
           record and set a deadline for filing the reporter’s record with this court, which shall be
           not later than 60 days from the date of the hearing;
       (4) If a reporter’s record cannot be prepared and certified, enter a finding regarding
           whether the reporter’s record or a portion thereof has been lost or destroyed; and
               a. Determine whether the portion of the record that has been lost or destroyed is
                  necessary to the appeal, and
               b. Determine whether the lost or destroyed portion of the reporter’s record can be
                  replaced by agreement of the parties and whether any lost or destroyed exhibits
                  can be replaced by agreement of the parties or with a copy determined by the
                  trial court to accurately duplicate the original exhibit.
See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.6(a)(1), (e)(2), (f); Routier v. State, 112 S.W.3d 554, 557–74 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2003); Holder v. Keller Indus., Inc., No. 05-97-01168-CV, 2000 WL 141070, at *2–3 (Tex.
App.—Dallas Feb. 9, 2000, pet. denied).
        The trial court shall have a court reporter, or court recorder, record the hearing, who shall
not be the reporter appointed to review the proceedings. The trial court clerk is directed to file a
supplemental clerk’s record containing the trial court’s findings, recommendations, and orders
with this Court no later than 45 days from the date of this order. See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.5(c).
The court reporter is directed to file the reporter’s record of the hearing no later than 45 days
from the date of this order. If the hearing is conducted by video teleconference, an electronic
copy of the hearing shall be filed in this Court no later than 45 days from the date of this order.
        The appeal is abated, treated as a closed case, and removed from this Court’s active
docket. The appeal will be reinstated on this Court’s active docket when the supplemental
clerk’s record and reporter’s record that comply with our order are filed with the Clerk of this
Court. The court coordinator of the trial court shall set a hearing date and notify the parties.
       It is so ORDERED.

Judge’s signature: /s/ Terry Jennings
                    Acting individually      Acting for the Court

Date: _February 8, 2013

       or the attorney representing the State.