IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
NO. AP-76,081
EX PARTE RODNEY CAMERON STRICKLAND, Applicant
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NO. CR-26358 IN THE 75TH DISTRICT COURT
FROM LIBERTY COUNTY
Per curiam.
O P I N I O N
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 murder and sentenced to sixty years’ imprisonment.
Applicant contends that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he failed to timely file a notice of appeal.
The record reflects that trial counsel failed to timely file a notice of appeal. We find, therefore, that Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file an out-of-time appeal of the judgment of conviction in Cause No. CR-26358 from the 75th Judicial District Court of Liberty County. Applicant is ordered returned to that time at which he may give a written notice of appeal so that he may then, with the aid of counsel, obtain a meaningful appeal. All time limits shall be calculated as if the sentence had been imposed on the date on which the mandate of this Court issues. We hold that, should Applicant desire to prosecute an appeal, he must take affirmative steps to file a written notice of appeal in the trial court within 30 days after the mandate of this Court issues.
Delivered: January 28, 2009
Do Not Publish