In The
Court of Appeals
Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo
No. 07-12-00515-CR
FRANK NAVARRO, APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
On Appeal from the 140th District Court
Lubbock County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2012-436,251, Honorable Jim Bob Darnell, Presiding
June 18, 2013
ABATEMENT AND REMAND
Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.
Following a plea of not guilty, Appellant, Frank Navarro, was convicted by a jury
of driving while intoxicated, third or more, 1 and sentenced to ninety-nine years
confinement. Both the clerk's record and reporter's record have been filed. Appellant's
brief was due to be filed on May 17, 2013, but has not been filed. By letter dated May
23, 2013, counsel for appellant, D. Mark Skelton, was advised that the brief remained
outstanding and was granted until June 3, 2013, in which to file the brief, noting that
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TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 49.09(b)(2) (W EST SUPP. 2012)
failure to comply might result in abatement of the appeal and remand of the cause to the
trial court for further proceedings without further notice. Counsel has not responded to
the notice nor communicated with the Clerk of this Court regarding this appeal.
Consequently, we now abate this appeal and remand the cause to the trial court
for further proceedings. Upon remand, the trial court shall immediately determine why
counsel has failed to file Appellant=s brief and take such action as is necessary to
ensure that the brief is filed in accordance with this opinion.
Should counsel file Appellant's brief on or before, June 24, 2013, he is directed to
immediately notify the trial court, in writing, of the filing, whereupon the trial court shall
not be required to take further action. If, however, the brief is not filed by that date,
pursuant to Rule 38.8(b)(2) and (3) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the trial
court is directed to conduct a hearing on or before July 8, 2013, to determine the
following:
1. whether Appellant still desires to prosecute the appeal;
2. whether Appellant remains indigent and is entitled to appointed counsel;
and
3. whether Appellant has been denied effective assistance of counsel and is
entitled to new appointed counsel.
See Guillory v. State, 557 S.W.2d 118, 121 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977). 2
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The trial court has a duty under the Texas and federal Constitutions to provide an indigent defendant
with the effective assistance of counsel on appeal. Guillory, 557 S.W.2d at 120 (citing Douglas v.
California, 372 U.S. 353, 83 S.Ct. 814, 9 L.Ed.2d 811 (1963)). Effective assistance cannot be afforded
without requiring that counsel file a brief on an appellant's behalf. Guillory, 557 S.W.2d at 121. The trial
judge has the authority to require appointed counsel to file a brief on behalf of an appellant. Id.
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Should it be determined that Appellant does want to continue the appeal and the
trial court determines he is entitled to new appointed counsel, the name, address,
telephone number, and state bar number of the newly-appointed counsel shall be
provided to the Clerk of this Court. The trial court shall execute findings of fact and
conclusions of law, and shall cause its findings, conclusions, and any necessary orders
to be included in a supplemental clerk's record to be filed with the Clerk of this Court by
July 22, 2013. If new counsel is appointed, Appellant's brief shall be due thirty days
after the date of appointment; however, should D. Mark Skelton be allowed to remain as
appointed counsel, he is hereby ordered to file Appellant's brief instanter.
It is so ordered.
Per Curiam
Do not publish.
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