IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
ON APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NUMBER 2003-CR-1057-C IN THE 197TH
DISTRICT COURT CAMERON COUNTY
Per curiam.
O R D E R
This is an application for a writ of habeas corpus that was transmitted to this Court by the clerk of the trial court pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07, Section 3, of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Ex Parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant pled guilty to injury to a child and was sentenced to a term of twenty years in prison. Applicant appealed the conviction, but it was dismissed for want of jurisdiction in an unpublished memorandum opinion. Mata v. State, No. 13-05-149-CR (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi Delivered April 7, 2005).
In this application for a writ of habeas corpus, Applicant contends that he was denied his right to appeal due to ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court ordered affidavits to be filed by Applicant's attorneys addressing the claim, but there are no affidavits in the record. It is this Court's opinion that these affidavits are necessary before this Court may render a decision.
Because this Court does not hear evidence, Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1960), the trial court is the appropriate forum. The trial court shall resolve these issues as set out in Article 11.07, Section 3(d), of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, in that it shall obtain the affidavits from trial counsel, as ordered, and supplement the record with them. Alternatively, the trial court may order depositions, interrogatories, or hold a hearing. In the appropriate case, the trial court may also rely on its personal recollection.
If the trial court elects to hold a hearing, the court should first decide whether Applicant is indigent. If the trial court finds that Applicant is indigent, and Applicant desires to be represented by counsel, the trial court will then, pursuant to the provisions of Article 26.04 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, appoint an attorney to represent him at the hearing.
Following the receipt of additional information, the trial court shall determine whether Applicant was denied effective assistance of counsel and was denied an appeal. The trial court shall also make any further findings of fact and conclusions of law that it deems relevant and appropriate to the disposition of Applicant's application for habeas corpus relief.
Further, because this Court does not hear evidence, Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d at 294, this application for a post-conviction writ of habeas corpus will be held in abeyance pending the trial court's compliance with this order. Resolution of the issues shall be accomplished by the trial court within 90 days of the date of this order. (1) 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 returned to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. (2)
DELIVERED: March 29, 2006
DO NOT PUBLISH
1. 2.