Samantha Garza v. State

NUMBER 13-13-00454-CR COURT OF APPEALS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG SAMANTHA GARZA, Appellant, v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee. On appeal from the 105th District Court of Kleberg County, Texas. ORDER OF ABATEMENT Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Rodriguez and Garza Order Per Curiam Counsel for appellant, Samantha Garza, has filed a motion to withdraw as counsel in this cause. According to the motion, counsel was retained to represent appellant in the trial court but was not retained to represent appellant on appeal. Because appellant’s trial counsel has indicated that she was not retained for appeal and the record fails to indicate whether appellant is entitled to appointed counsel on appeal, we ABATE and REMAND this cause as follows. Upon remand, the trial court shall utilize whatever means necessary to make appropriate findings and recommendations concerning the following: (1) whether appellant desires to prosecute this appeal; (2) whether appellant has been denied effective assistance of counsel; and (3) whether appellant is indigent and entitled to court-appointed counsel. If the trial court determines that appellant does want to continue the appeal and that appellant is indigent and entitled to court-appointed counsel, the trial court shall appoint new counsel to represent appellant in this appeal. If new counsel is appointed, the name, address, telephone number, and state bar number of said counsel shall be included in an order appointing counsel. The trial court shall cause its findings and recommendations, together with any orders it may enter regarding the aforementioned issues, to be included in a supplemental clerk's record. Furthermore, the trial court shall cause a supplemental reporter's record of any proceedings to be prepared. The supplemental clerk's record and supplemental reporter's record, if any, shall be filed with the Clerk of this Court on or before the expiration of thirty days from the date of this order. It is so ORDERED. PER CURIAM Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b). Delivered and filed the 11th day of October, 2013. 2