Court Opinion

ID: 9779532
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 22:05:38.118063+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:27.474203
License: Public Domain

BUTTS, Justice,
dissenting.
Although I joined in the order to abate this case and remand for a hearing to determine whether appellant was denied effective assistance of counsel, on reflection I believe that order was unwarranted. This action is, in reality, a collateral attack on the conviction. We are, in my opinion, conducting a typical post-conviction procedure as under TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC. ANN. art. 11.07 (Vernon 1977 and Supp. 1988). See Ex parte Burns, 601 S.W.2d 370 (Tex.Crim.App.1980).
A plea of guilty (in the present case nolo contendere) is not knowingly and voluntarily entered if it is made as a result of ineffective assistance of counsel. Id. at 372. But a defendant’s constitutional right to counsel does not mean errorless counsel. Howell v. State, 563 S.W.2d 933, 937 (Tex.Crim.App.1978).
In the present case the plea of nolo con-tendere to one of the counts in the indictment resulted in a sentence of 60 years. During the plea proceedings the trial court followed the mandates of TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC.ANN. art. 26.13 (Vernon Pamphlet 1988). Answering the court’s questions, the appellant stated he had been at a mental hospital (Rusk) when he was about 13 or 14 years old. He said he was examined by a psychiatrist at the Bexar County jail three months earlier. “Just somebody seen me down there, and they said I wanted to try to commit suicide or something. Didn’t know what he was talking about.” His attorney told the judge appellant had been “depressed or whatever.” There was no psychiatric evaluation among the papers of the court. The attorney indicated that appellant was legally and mentally competent to stand trial, although his ability to understand was limited. He could not read.
The trial judge read the indictment (count one) to appellant. Appellant was told he could plead not guilty, nolo conten-dere or guilty. He pled “nolo.”
In accepting the plea the trial court reminded appellant he was not eligible for probation. Appellant answered all questions asked him and indicated he understood. After finding appellant guilty of the offense, the court ordered a psychological and pre-sentence report. This court must assume the court had these reports before it at sentencing. At that point the attorney affirmed to the court he had waived the motion to suppress the confession.
At the punishment phase counsel for appellant presented witnesses: the niece of appellant and his sister. Then he said, “The defendant would like to testify.”
Appellant said that after the occurrence with the girl, he “[djidn’t feel good at all. I went and busted my camera, stopped going over my sister’s house, didn’t go over there very often like I used to.” He affirmed that he tried to avoid the child after that.
Pictures appellant took of himself with the child had been given to the police by a *927man who said a “burglar” got them and “wanted something done about it.” These pictures would have been admissible at trial as well as at the plea hearing. Appellant had given a confession to officers; counsel filed his motion to suppress the confession. At the close of the punishment phase appellant’s counsel moved “to introduce the confession that the District Attorney introduced during the trial for the full text of it.” The full confession was admitted in evidence as Defendant’s Exhibit A. Therefore, the trial court considered it.
I disagree that the record shows ineffective assistance of counsel under the facts of this case. While we might not agree with some strategy employed by this counsel, it was just that — strategy. The test should be applied at the time of trial, not through hindsight. Hawkins v. State, 660 S.W.2d 65, 75 (Tex.Crim.App.1983). I believe that appellant has failed to sustain the burden of proving either prong of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). In particular, it has not been shown that the deficient performance of counsel (if any) so prejudiced the defense as to result in denial of a fair trial. He must show the result of the trial is not reliable. That burden has not been sustained.
Now to return to the first part of this dissent. While this court has many powers, some statutory and others inherent, it is not appropriate for the court to abate a cause to permit a record to be made for purposes of appeal. The hearing for this record was conducted as for an article 11.-07 writ of habeas corpus. The record that is filed for appeal should contain the proof ascertained at the trial level to perfect the appeal on the point of error of ineffective assistance of counsel, perhaps by motion for new trial. If it does not, the defendant has not obtained the necessary record to perfect that point on direct appeal. I would hold this court should not have abated the “appeal” for a record to be made post-trial on alleged ineffective assistance of counsel.
On both grounds I respectfully dissent. I would affirm the judgment.