Court Opinion

ID: 9768565
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 06:08:27.154619+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:41.907379
License: Public Domain

BAIRD, Judge.
I agree with the majority’s holding that a defendant’s right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment must be affirmatively waived and that no waiver may be implied from a defendant’s failure to request counsel. Oliver v. State, 872 S.W.2d 713, 715 (Tex.Cr.App. delivered this day). See also, Camley v. Cochran, 369 U.S. 506, 516, 82 S.Ct. 884, 890, 8 L.Ed.2d 70 (1962); Lyles v. State, 582 S.W.2d 138, 141 (Tex.Cr.App.1972); and, Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 525, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 2189, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972).
However, for the reasons expressed in my concurrence in Green v. State, 872 S.W.2d 717 (Tex.Cr.App. delivered this day), I agree with the Court of Appeals that a defendant’s preliminary initial appearance under art. 15.17 is a “critical stage” at which point his right to counsel arises under the Sixth Amendment. Oliver v. State, 813 S.W.2d 762, 764-765 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1991).
With these comments I join only the judgment of the Court.
OVERSTREET and MALONEY, JJ, join this opinion.