Dismissed w.o.j. and Opinion Filed October 21, 2016
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-16-01212-CV
No. 05-16–01213-CV
IN RE NATHAN BURT, Relator
Original Proceeding from the 204th Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause Nos. F15-25052 and F15-25053
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Francis, Fillmore, and Stoddart
Opinion by Justice Fillmore
In this original proceeding, relator asks this Court to dismiss his appointed trial counsel
and appoint new trial counsel. Although section 22.221 of the Texas Government Code grants
courts of appeals mandamus jurisdiction in criminal matters, an appellate court has no
jurisdiction to remove appointed counsel and appoint new counsel. See Hebert v. Honorable
Judge of 208th Dist. Court of Harris Cty., 01-91-00052-CV, 1991 WL 22355, at *1 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 21, 1991, orig. proceeding) (not designated for publication).1
The trial court has the exclusive responsibility for appointing counsel to represent indigent
defendants, even after the appellate record has been filed. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. arts.
1.051(d), 26.04(c) (West. Supp. 2016); Watson v. State, No. 07-06-0414-CR, 2007 WL 313460,
1
An appellate court may, on appropriate terms and conditions, permit an attorney to withdraw from representing a party in the appellate
court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 6.5. That situation is not presented by this original proceeding.
1
at *1 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Feb. 2, 2007, no pet.) (per curiam). We, therefore, lack jurisdiction
to provide relator the relief requested.
Accordingly, we DISMISS this original proceeding for want of jurisdiction.
/Robert M. Fillmore/
ROBERT M. FILLMORE
JUSTICE
161212F.P05
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