Court Opinion

ID: 2950877
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 06:50:23.627313+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:49.662554
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                         NO. WR-82,435-01

                            EX PARTE FELIX DELEON, Applicant

                 ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
                CAUSE NO. CR09-101A IN THE 235TH DISTRICT COURT
                             FROM COOKE COUNTY

        Per curiam.

                                              ORDER

        Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the

clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court this application for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of voluntary

manslaughter and sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment. The Second Court of Appeals affirmed

his conviction. Deleon v. State, No. 02-11-00281-CR (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 16, 2013) (not

designated for publication).

        Applicant contends, among other things, that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance

because he requested an instruction on voluntary manslaughter. Applicant has alleged facts that, if

true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Patterson,
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993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). In these circumstances, additional facts are needed.

As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1960), the trial court is

the appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court shall order trial counsel to respond to

Applicant’s claim. In his response, counsel shall state whether he consulted with Applicant before

asking for an instruction on voluntary manslaughter. The trial court may use any means set out in

TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d).

       If the trial court elects to hold a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent.

If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an

attorney to represent him at the hearing. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.

       The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether trial counsel’s

conduct was deficient and Applicant was prejudiced. The trial court shall also make any other

findings of fact and conclusions of law that it deems relevant and appropriate to the disposition of

Applicant’s claim for habeas corpus relief.

       This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues. The

issues shall be resolved within 90 days of this order. A supplemental transcript containing all

affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court reporter’s notes from any hearing or

deposition, along with the trial court’s supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall

be forwarded to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall

be obtained from this Court.

Filed: January 14, 2015
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