Court Opinion

ID: 9676828
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:35:25.074571+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:51.581262
License: Public Domain

*609GILBERTO HINOJOSA, Justice,
concurring.
I agree with the majority opinion in all respects. I write separately, however, to address certain conclusions made in the dissent regarding the majority’s reasoning for its decision and its effect upon criminal jurisprudence in this State.
The dissent asserts that the majority’s holding will act as an injustice to both criminal defendants and victims by encouraging the state to make more general allegations in an indictment1 and by depriving victims of their day in court even though the “appellant’s conduct violated the Penal Code.” The dissent, however, acknowledges that “the rules of law ... require an appellate court to acquit defendants when surplusage in the indictment has not been proven, even though the evidence clearly establishes all the essential elements of the offense.” The dissent further affirms the fundamental principle that “we are bound to follow the law set out by the Court of Criminal Appeals.” Yet, not withstanding the obvious failure of the state to prove the allegations contained in the indictment, the dissent concludes that “[w]e could not have reached a worse decision” and then goes on to urge “the Court of Criminal Appeals and the State Legislature to act to cure these injustices.”
It is fundamental that intermediate appellate courts are courts of law. We are bound to interpret the law as enacted by the legislature or developed by the higher courts. Although individual justices may have biases and prejudices about how the law affects parties and non-parties within our jurisdiction, our oath requires us to set aside such biases and prejudices and interpret the law.2 Our duty is to follow and apply the law to the parties in this case, regardless of their character or how it might effect non-parties in our State.
For example, it would offend anyone’s basic sense of justice to acquit a criminal defendant who is found to have committed a heinous criminal act simply because the evidence establishing guilt was obtained through an illegal search. However, the law holds that illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible, regardless of its tendency to connect the criminal defendant to the offense charged. We are duty bound to follow such laws even if it results in the acquittal of an obviously guilty criminal defendant.
The same holds true here. As stated above, the dissent agrees that the Law in Texas is that all aspects of the indictment must be proven by the state regardless of whether those elements are surplusage. Here, the State failed to offer proof that the criminal defendant verbally threatened to kill the victim. That variance requires us to reverse the trial court’s finding of guilt and to acquit the defendant, regardless of how we feel about the result obtained. As with most other citizens in this state, we are concerned about the victims of crime. However, disregarding well settled law, simply because of these concerns, would be the greater injustice. If well settled law is wrong or unjust, then it is the duty of the legislature and the higher courts to change it, not intermediate appellate courts.
Accordingly, I join the majority in reversing the defendant’s conviction for robbery.

. The dissent’s premise is incorrect. The State has a wide degree of latitude in deciding how specific it wishes make a particular indictment. The rule is that it must prove the facts so alleged. The dissent's proposed rule would eliminate this requirement and permit the state to plead many facts, and merely prove the "bare bones” elements of the crime charged. This would render the indictment virtually worthless in its important function of providing the defendant specific notice of the crime alleged, thereby depriving a criminal defendant of his right to prepare an adequate defense to the charge brought against him by the State.

. It would be contradictory for the trial courts to charge a jury: “Do not let bias, prejudice, or sympathy play any part in your deliberations," if the Justices on this court refuse to abide by the same standard.