Court Opinion

ID: 2937068
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-15 17:31:28.586684+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:15:27.963023
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

NO. AP-75,066

EX PARTE FRANK WHITFIELD, JR., Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NUMBER 793997 IN THE 230th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
OF HARRIS COUNTY

 Per Curiam.

O P I N I O N

 This is a post-conviction application for a writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant to
Article 11.07, of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.  Applicant was convicted of
burglary of a habitation.  Punishment was assessed at thirty-seven years imprisonment.  This
conviction was affirmed, Whitfield v. State, No. 03-99-00670-CR (Tex. App.Austin,
delivered October 12, 2000, no pet.). 
	Applicant contends that he was denied an opportunity to file a pro se petition for
discretionary review because his appellate attorney did not timely advise him of the
affirmance of his conviction on direct appeal, and of his right to pursue discretionary review
on his own. The trial court has entered findings of fact that Applicant was not informed, in a
timely manner, of the affirmance of his conviction on direct appeal, and of his right to
pursue a pro se petition for discretionary review.
	In Ex parte Wilson, 956 S.W.2d 25 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997), we held that for counsel
to render effective assistance on appeal, he, or she, must notify the client the case has been
affirmed and that the client can pursue discretionary review on his own.
	Applicant is entitled to relief. The proper remedy in a case like this is to return
Applicant to the point at which he can file a petition for discretionary review. He may then
follow the proper procedures in order that a meaningful petition for discretionary review
may be filed. For purposes of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, all time limits shall
be calculated as if the Court of Appeals' decision had been rendered on the day the mandate
of this Court in this cause issues. We hold that should Applicant desire to seek discretionary
review, he must take affirmative steps to see that his petition is filed in the Court of Appeals
within thirty days after the mandate of this Court has issued.
	Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice,
Institutional and Pardons and Paroles Divisions.
	All other claims are dismissed.  Ex parte Torres, 943 S.W.2d 469 (Tex. Crim. App.
1997).
DELIVERED: January 12, 2005
DO NOT PUBLISH