IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
CAUSE NO. 6716-D IN THE 259TH DISTRICT COURT
FROM JONES COUNTY
O R D E R
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 attempted murder and sentenced to forty years' imprisonment. The Eleventh Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Salas v. State, No. 11-99-00056-CR (Tex. App.-Eastland, delivered December 14, 2000, pet. ref'd).
Applicant contends that he is actually innocent. The trial court entered an order designating issues on November 20, 2006, and we received the present application on December 18. But no findings of fact or conclusions of law were found in the application. We believe that the application was prematurely forwarded to this Court.
Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. In these circumstances, additional facts are needed. As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997), the trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. 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 Applicant at the hearing. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.04.
The trial court shall then make findings of fact as to whether Applicant has established that he is actually innocent. 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. If any continuances are granted, a copy of the order granting the continuance shall be sent to this Court. 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. Any extensions of time shall be obtained from this Court.
Filed: March 21, 2007
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