Court Opinion

ID: 4526887
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-20 07:14:42.615856+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:43:40.967348
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                  San Antonio, Texas
                                         April 17, 2020

                                      No. 04-18-00865-CV

                          IN RE THE COMMITMENT OF M.A.C.

                  From the 175th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
                                Trial Court No. 2017CI23282
                      Honorable Catherine Torres-Stahl, Judge Presiding

                                         ORDER

        On July 17, 2019, we abated this Anders appeal to the trial court for appointment of new
counsel to prepare and file an appellant’s brief on the merits. A supplemental clerk’s record
containing the trial court’s order appointing Ms. Judith Wemmert as new appellate counsel was
filed. On August 23, 2019, we reinstated the case and ordered appellant’s brief due on or before
September 23, 2019. Thereafter, we issued several orders directing Ms. Wemmert to file
appellant’s brief. By January 9, 2020, Ms. Wemmert had failed to file appellant’s brief, and we
abated the case to the trial court for a hearing to determine if new appellate counsel should be
appointed and to consider whether sanctions should be imposed against Ms. Wemmert for failing
to timely file appellant’s brief.

       On February 13, 2020, we received a supplemental clerk’s record containing the trial
court’s findings that appellant desires to prosecute his appeal and is indigent, that appellant
wants to have his court-appointed attorney Ms. Wemmert continue to represent him on appeal,
and that Ms. Wemmert has not abandoned the appeal. The trial court recommended that we not
sanction Ms. Wemmert. On February 20, 2020, we ordered the appeal reinstated on our docket.
We ordered appellant’s brief due on March 20, 2020, and we did not impose sanctions at that
time.

        By April 1, 2020, Ms. Wemmert had not filed appellant’s brief, and we ordered her to file
appellant’s brief no later than April 10, 2020, along with a reasonable explanation for failing to
timely file appellant’s brief. To date, Ms. Wemmert has not filed appellant’s brief or a response.

        Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 38.8(a)(2) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, we
abate this case to the trial court and ORDER the trial court to conduct a hearing on the record to
answer the following questions on the record:

       (1) Does appellant desire to prosecute his appeal?
        (2) Is appellant indigent? If appellant is indigent and desires to prosecute his appeal,
the trial court shall appoint new counsel to assure the effective assistance of counsel.

        (3) Has appointed counsel abandoned the appeal? Because sanctions may be necessary,
the trial court shall address this issue on the record even when new counsel is retained or
substituted.

        The trial court may, in its discretion, receive evidence on the first two questions by sworn
affidavit from the appellant. The trial court shall, however, order Ms. Wemmert to be present at
the hearing to be conducted on the record. The trial court must make appropriate findings,
recommendations, and orders and have a supplemental clerk’s record and reporter’s
record prepared. The trial court is ORDERED to file supplemental clerk’s and reporter’s
records in this court, no later than May 20, 2020, which shall include: (1) a transcription of the
hearing and copies of any documentary evidence admitted, (2) written findings of fact and
conclusions of law, (3) recommendations addressing the above enumerated questions, and (4)
any orders appointing or substituting counsel. All appellate filing dates are ABATED pending
further orders from this court.

                                                     _______________________________
                                                     Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
court on this 17th day of April, 2020.

                                                     ___________________________________
                                                     Michael A. Cruz,
                                                     Clerk of Court