Court Opinion

ID: 3122309
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 14:22:06.769007+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:53:10.971558
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
                             FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON

                                      ORDER OF ABATEMENT

Appellate case name:       James Conner v. The State of Texas

Appellate case number:     01-11-00935-CR

Trial court case number: 1722189

Trial court:               County Criminal Court at Law No. 12 of Harris County, Texas

        On April 6, 2012, this Court abated the above-captioned appeal and directed the trial
court to provide this Court with information regarding appellant’s counsel on appeal. We
directed the trial court to obtain from the appellant the name, address, and telephone number of
retained counsel, if appellant had retained appellate counsel. On April 19, 2012, a hearing record
was filed in this Court. The record reflects that appellant told the trial court that he had retained
appellate counsel, and he provided the trial court with a name, address, and telephone number of
his purported appellate counsel. Therefore, this Court reinstated the appeal.
        Appellant told the trial court that his retained appellate counsel was Eddrea McKnight.
However, McKnight has informed the Clerk of this Court that she was not and never has been
retained by appellant.

        Accordingly, we abate this appeal and remand the case to the trial court for another
hearing, at which appellant shall be present in person. The court coordinator of the trial court
shall set a date for said hearing and notify the parties, including personal notice to the appellant.
If appellant is now incarcerated, he may appear by closed video teleconference. 1 We direct the
trial court to make appropriate written findings of fact and conclusions of law and to execute any
necessary orders on these issues:

1      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, appellant and his counsel shall be able to communicate
       privately without being recorded or heard by the trial court or the attorney representing
       the State.
           1) Whether appellant still wishes to pursue this appeal;
           2) If so, the trial court shall ascertain and make a fact finding of whether appellant
              has retained an attorney to file a brief on his behalf in this appeal, and, if so, the
              name, address, and telephone number of retained counsel2 and execute a written
              order directing counsel to file with the Clerk of this Court within 10 days of the
              date of the hearing, and regardless of whether this Court has yet reinstated this
              appeal, (a) a written notice of appearance; and (b) proof that appellant has paid or
              made arrangements to pay for the reporter’s record in this case, or a statement that
              appellant will not pay for the reporter’s record in this case;3
           3) Regardless of whether appellant has retained counsel, the trial court shall
              admonish appellant of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. If
              appellant has not retained counsel, the trial court shall
                  a. determine whether appellant is knowingly and intelligently waiving his
                       right to counsel and if so, execute a written order directing appellant to file
                       with the Clerk of this Court within 10 days of the date of the hearing, and
                       regardless of whether this Court has yet reinstated this appeal, proof that
                       appellant has paid or made arrangements to pay for the reporter’s record in
                       this case, or a statement that appellant will not pay for the reporter’s
                       record in this case;4 or,
                  b. if appellant does not wish to proceed pro se, provide a deadline by which
                       appellant must hire an attorney no later than 10 days from the date of the
                       hearing and provide that attorney’s information within the deadline to the
                       trial court clerk for inclusion in a special clerk’s record to be filed with
                       this Court. In the event appellant is given 10 days to retain counsel, the
                       trial court shall schedule yet another hearing, at which appellant and his
                       retained counsel shall be present in person, for the purpose of the trial
                       court making the fact findings described above or otherwise creating a
                       record to demonstrate whether appellant is making a knowing and
                       intelligent waiver of his right to counsel.

See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.051(a), (c), (d), (f), 26.04(j); TEX. R. APP. P. 35.3(c);
Gonzalez v. State, 117 S.W.3d 831, 837 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (stating that presumption in
favor of right to choice of counsel may be overridden by other factors relating to fair and orderly

2      If appellant has retained counsel, the trial court is directed to confirm with counsel that
       appellant has retained that person, and execute a written order confirming counsel’s
       retention, to be included in the special clerk’s record to be submitted to this Court.

3      Due to the previous delays in this appeal, no extensions shall be given for appellant’s
       payment of the record absent extraordinary circumstances. See TEX. R. APP. P. 35.3(c).
       If such evidence is not filed in this Court by the deadline, the Court may require appellant
       to file his brief and will decide those issues and points that do not require a reporter’s
       record. See TEX. R. APP. P. 37.3(c).

4      See supra note 3.
administration of justice); Webb v. State, 533 S.W.2d 780, 784, 785 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976)
(stating that criminal defendant may not manipulate right to choose counsel so as to interfere
with fair administration of justice; “The trial court should therefore admonish an accused who
desires to represent himself regarding the wisdom and practical consequences of that choice.”);
Carter v. State, No. 01-95-00977-CR, 1997 WL 184385, *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
April 17, 1997, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication) (“Thus, the public interest in the fair
and orderly administration of justice may be greater than an accused’s right to have counsel of
his own choice.”).

        The trial court shall have a court reporter, or court recorder, record the hearing(s) and file
the reporter’s record(s) with the Court no later than 30 days from the date of this order.
Additionally, the trial court’s findings and recommendations and any orders issued pursuant to
this hearing shall be included in a supplemental clerk’s record and filed in this Court no later
than 30 days from the date of this order. If a hearing is conducted by video teleconference, a
certified electronic copy of the hearing shall be filed in this Court no later than 30 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(s) of the hearing(s) are filed in this Court.

       It is so ORDERED.

Judge’s signature: /s/ Justice Michael Massengale
                    Acting individually  Acting for the Court

Date: August 2, 2012