Court Opinion

ID: 9767206
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:12:50.507394+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:29.580358
License: Public Domain

GONZALEZ, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The trial court committed reversible error in not allowing appellant to withdraw his plea and I would therefore reverse and remand the case. 1977 Tex.Gen.Laws, Ch. 280 at 748.
Where an accused pleads guilty without a plea bargain, and then allows the trier of the facts (judge or jury) to determine punishment, the guilt is established before the assessment of punishment and any error in the punishment phase does not affect (reverse) the guilty plea (assuming it was properly taken). If there was an error in the punishment phase, the ease is remanded for reassessment of punishment only.
In a plea bargain case, the guilt and the punishment phase are so interdependent that they comprise one unit and if there is an error in either phase, it affects the whole and all of the case should be reversed and the process started anew.
With all due respect to the Court of Criminal Appeals, in affirming the case and remanding the case to the trial court for reassessment of punishment only, they overlooked the fact that this was a plea bargain case. I am well aware that the Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court of this State with regards to criminal matters and I do not seek nor attempt to “reverse” the Court of Criminal Appeals. My intention is to once again call this matter to the attention of the Court of Criminal Appeals so that they may give the bench and the bar of this State proper guidance and put an end to the confusion they created in this case.