Court Opinion

ID: 4032813
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-12 09:05:06.143506+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:41.711019
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                    San Antonio, Texas
                                         September 6, 2016

                                        No. 04-16-00017-CR

                                          James MOODY,
                                             Appellant

                                                  v.

                                       The STATE of Texas,
                                             Appellee

                   From the County Court at Law No. 15, Bexar County, Texas
                                    Trial Court No. 413867
                        The Honorable Robert Behrens, Judge Presiding

                                           ORDER
        Counsel for the appellant has filed a brief and motion to withdraw pursuant to Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and asserts there are no meritorious issues to raise on appeal.
When counsel files an Anders brief, he is required to include as an exhibit a copy of the letter
sent to his client. The letter must: (1) notify appellant that counsel has filed an Anders brief and
motion to withdraw and enclose copies of the documents, (2) inform appellant of his right to
review the appellate record and file a pro se brief, (3) inform appellant of his right to file a pro se
petition for discretionary review should the court of appeals determine the appeal is frivolous,
and (4) “take concrete measures to initiate and facilitate the process of actuating [appellant’s]
right to review the appellate record, if that is what [appellant] wishes.” Kelly v. State, 436
S.W.3d 313, 319 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); Ex parte Owens, 206 S.W.3d 670-74 n. 28 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2006); Meza v. State, 206 S.W.3d 684 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). With respect to the last
requirement, counsel may either send a copy of the appellate record to his client or advise his
client that if he wishes to review the appellate record, he must file a motion in this court within
ten days of counsel’s letter, requesting access to the record. See Kelly, 436 S.W.3d at 319-20.
Counsel must include with his letter a form motion for this purpose, advise his client to sign and
date the motion and mail it to this court within ten days, and supply his client with this court’s
mailing address. Id. at 320.

        Moody’s counsel did not include as an exhibit a copy of the letter sent to his client. In his
motion to withdraw, Moody’s counsel states, “Counsel has advised Appellant of his conclusions,
and has advised Appellant of his right to brief the case himself, or to retain replacement counsel
to” [sic]. It appears counsel did not finish explaining what he advised Moody of. Neither the
brief nor the motion states whether Moody was specifically advised as required by Kelly or
whether counsel sent Moody a copy of the appellate record or a form motion for requesting the
appellate record.

        We therefore order appellant’s appointed counsel, Pat Montgomery, to file by September
16, 2016 a copy of counsel’s letter to Moody that demonstrates compliance with Kelly’s
requirements. Counsel is reminded that his duties of representation do not cease when he files a
motion to withdraw; counsel must continue to act with competence, commitment and dedication
to the interest of the client until the court of appeals grants the motion. Schulman v. State, 252
S.W.3d 403, 410-11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); see Kelly, 436 S.W.3d at 319.

                                                    ________________________________
                                                    Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
court on this 6th day of September, 2016.

                                                    ___________________________________
                                                    Keith E. Hottle
                                                    Clerk of Court