Booker, Jimmy Sol v. State ( 2012 )

AFFIRNI; Opinion issued December 21, 2012.
In The
nf Apiat
nurt
FiftI! itric1 uf xa tt Ott1iu
o. 05-11-01 141-CR
JIMMY SOL BOOKER, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 86th .Judicial District Court
Kaufman County, T
Trial Court Cause No. 16390
OPINION
Before Justices Moseley, Fillmore. and Myers
Opinion By Justice Fillmore
Prose appellant Jimmy So! Booker appeals the trial court’s denial of his second motions for
post-conviction forensic DNA testing under chapter 64 of the code of criminal procedure and for
appointment of counsel. Booker brings five points of error generally contending (1) the trial court
erred by denying his second motion for post-conviction forensic DNA testing of “untested biological
evidence”; (2) the State violated his due process rights by failing to respond to his second motion
for post-conviction forensic DNA testing and refusing to provide for DNA testing of requested
untested items: (3) the trial court’s findings regarding Booker’s second motion for post-conviction
forensic DNA testing were not “meaningful” and, therefore, “violated principles of appellate
review”; (4) the State failed to carry its burden beyond a reasonable doubt by not performing forensic
\ testing
1
1)N 01 evidence, which may have been exculpatory, inculpatory, or inconclusive; and (5)
the trial court erred by denying his second request for appointment of counsel.t We affirm the trial
court s order denying Hooker’s second motions for posLconviction forensic DNA testing and for
apl)Oiuhlfleflt of counsel.
Background
Booker’s First Appeal
On June 12, 1991 Booker was sentenced to life imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault.
,
We affirmed Booker’s conviction on appeal. Booker i’. State, No. 05—91—01071—CR. 1993 WL
541415, at * 11 (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec. 28, 1993, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication)
(Booker 1.
At trial, evidence was admitted that Booker’s hair samples were sent to a trace—element
analyst, who testified that, under microscopic examination, Booker’s pubic hairs matched some of
the pubic hairs found in the seat cover of the victim’s car. A vaginal swab obtained from the victim
and Booker s blood samples were sent to GeneScreen. a genetic testing laboratory. The laboratory
As part of the introduction to his brief. Booker lists the following “questions presented for review”:
Whether the record evidence in this case, raises serious doubts or concerns that appellant was possibly incarcerated for at least
twelve (12) years, before the vaginal swab was ‘actually’ tested in May of 2002/by the Texas Department of Publie
Safr’ts/( Garland)
Whethcrthepostcons iv’tion ‘inconclusive results found in thedistrict courts !sicj April 3rd 7(g)3 order, sic! relieves thestate
of its burden to prove “guilt beyound sic! a reasonable doubt” when the states sic! key vvitness has admitted the test results
used at appellant’s trial presented to the jury as a match. were in reality, “inconclusive”?
Whether the evidence appellant presented in his motion, altidavit. and appendixed exhibits, raised sufficient evidence to
discredit the state’s key witness, Dr. Robert C. Giles and testing conducted by Genescreen’s Laboratory?
Whether the evidence taken as a whole, compounded by suggestive police procedures ‘irreparably suggestive identification,
and dragging appellant into a lineup (absent his counsel) led to appellant’s wrongful conviction’?
Whether any circumstance, or evidence in this case, can he called into question by the District Court. or Fifth District Court
of Appeals, so as to appoint a “special commission” to review thecircumstanees and facts and make a finding ordetermination
as to whether appellant should he entitled “to a new trial as a matter of law” or a tuffiash-type hearing’.’ SEE ‘fuffiash V. State
87S SW 2d (1)197 whether any’ failure to hold an evidentiarv hearing as was done Ibra similarly-situated defendant uuffiash)
!denies appellant equal protections of the law and would result in a mmsearnage of justice!?
I lowever. these “questions” are not the “grounds ofeiTor” Booker raises and argues in his brief, Accordingly’, we addm’ess the five “grounds of error
argued by Booker in his brief.
Our recitation regarding the evidence at trial is taken from our opinion affirming Booker’s conviction. See Booker!, 1993 WL 541415.
analyzed the blood and swab and obtained a “I ifcprint” l.tttern ftr each. Id. at 2. the laboratory
determined that the Lifeprint pattern for Booker’s blood matched the pattern in the male substances
in the vaginal swab. Matching Lifeprint patterns for persons in Booker’s racial group living in North
America could occur in one person in 60.400,(X)() l)eople. Id.
Booker ‘,v Second Appeal
In 2001 Booker filed a motion for postconviction forensic DNA testing of the vaginal swab.
,
contending that the “evidence was previously tested. but now there are better ways to test that could
reasonably provide results that are more accurate than the results ot the prior test” and that it was
“highly probable that [hel would not have been prosecuted or convicted if results had been obtained
with reliable DNA testing.” The trial court appointed an attorney for Booker. On November 13.
2001, Bookers attorney and the State’s attorney filed an agreed motion for DNA testing pursuant
to chapter 64 of the code of criminal procedure. The trial court granted the motion.
The vaginal swab was tested by the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Crime Laboratory
(DPS Crime Laboratory) in Garland. Texas. After the DNA testing, the trial court conducted a
hearing pursuant to article 64.04 of the code of criminal procedure.
3 Evidence presented at the
hearing showed the DNA typing of sperm cells recovered from the swab was examined at fourteen
loci. At six of the loci, Booker could not he excluded as the contributor of the sperm. Lorna
Beasley, the DNA analyst who tested the swab, testified the remaining eight loci gave no results or
inconclusive results. There was nothing about the test results that would exclude Booker from being
the contributor of the sperm on the vaginal swab. Beasley’s report concluded, “At these loci, the
The version of anicle 64.04 applicable to Booker’s 2001 motion br pustco viction l6rensic DNA testing provided: ‘After examining
the results of testing under Article 64.03, the convicting court shall hold a hearing and make a finding as to whether, had the results been available
during the trial of the offense, it is reasonably probable that the person would not hase been convicted.” Act of Apr. 25, 2003, 75th Leg., R.S., ch.
13, 4, 2003 Tex. Gen. Laws 16, 16 (amended 2011) (current version at TEX. CODE CRIM, PROC. ANN. art. 64.04 (West. Supp. 2011)).
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piohahilitv ol selecting an unlelale(I person at random ho could he the source of this 1)NA prolile
is approximately 1 in 2,793XX) for Caucasians. I in 370,500 for Blacks, and 1 in 937,200 for
1 lispanics
1
i\her the hearing, the trial court entered Written findings which included the following:
3. On March I 2, 2003, the Court heard the results of courtordered DNA testing.
The DNA analysis was performed by the Texas Department of Public Safety in the
Garland Crime Lab. The Department analyzed a vaginal swab taken Irom the victim
in the case in October ol I 990. They also analyzed a blood specimen taken from the
[)efendant on March 15. 2002.
4. Of the 14 loci analyzed, the sperm li’action of the vaginal swab was consistent
with the l)NA profile of the Defendant on 6 loci. On the other eight loci. the testing
was inconclusive.
3. Isicl The Court finds the results of the DNA testing are not favorable to the
applicant.
4. I sic The Court further Onds, based on the unfavorable AND/OR inconclusive
results of the DNA testing. that it is not reasonably probable that the applicant would
not have been prosecuted or convicted in Cause No. 16.390.
Booker appealed the trial court’s findings, in that appeal. Booker contended, among other
things, that the trial court erred in determining that the results of the DNA testing were not favorable
to him. Booker argued the test results did not support the unfavorable tmding because only six of
the fourteen loci examined did not exclude Booker as a donor.
However, the remaining eight loci yielded either no result or an inconclusive result. None
of them excluded Booker as the donor. Thus, the fact that only six of the fourteen loci yielded a
result of not excluding Booker did not demonstrate a reasonable probability of innocence. Booker
r. State, 155 S.W.3d 259, 266—67 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, pet. ref’d) (Booker II).
Beasley testitiedconceming thediffeince in the DNA testi gisultof(keScreen—matchin Lifeprint patterns for Biker’s racial group
living in North America could occur in one person in 60.4t)DJ)flO--—-and the DNA testing result of the DPS (‘rime Lahoratorv—the probability of
selecting an unrelated person at random who could be the source ol the DNA prolile for Bookers racial eroup is approximately one in 370.500.
GeneScreen conducted a re,triction fragment length polymorphism analysis I RFLPt. The DPS (‘rime Laborators utilized the polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) testing method. Beasley testified the RFLP loci are more discriminating than some of the PCR loci. However, many different areas
can be tested in the PCR. and the more areas from which results can be obtained in conducting DNA testing, the more discriminating the statistics
are that are generated from the testing.
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In. that appeal, 13 no.1. or also arut.d th:e test results d.i.d r..ot support. t.Ite. ttia.1 court.’ S iinfii.vorabie
fi:.fld.ifli. because the did not perform DNA testing which, Boo4cer assertedi
was newer, more sophistIcated., abi.e to test smaller rnoLitrts of DNA.., and. better Su,i:t:ed t. testing the
DNA in this case. W statesi th the foct that. newer, more sophisticated means of testing DN ma.y
exist or that a better method of testing the DNA existed did not affect the trial court’s finding. Id.
at 267. “The issue is whether the test results actually obtained demonstrate a reasonable probability
of innocence; the issue is not what other, nonexistent, test results might have shown about
I,Booker’sl innocence” Id. After reviewing de novo all the evidence, we concluded the post
conviction test results did not demonstrate a reasonable probability of Booker’s innocence. Id,
Accordingly, we held the trial court did not err in finding the DNA test results were “not favorable”
to Booker, and we affirmed the trial court’s findings. Id.
Booker’s Third Appeal
On March 24, 2011, Booker filed his second motions for postconviction forensic DNA
testing of biological evidence and for appointment of counsel. The trial court’s August 9,2011 order
denying Booker’s motions included the following:
[Bookerj has previously filed with the Court a motion for DNA testing and
a request that an attorney be appointed. The Court appointed Rick Harrison as
[Booker’s] attorney and ordered that an independent laboratory test the DNA. The
results were highly unfavorable to [Bookerl, [Bookerj appealed to the Texas Court
of Appeals and the trial court was affirmed.
I Booker] now files the same motions, namely for DNA testing and for
appointment of attorney. The Court finds that there is no reasonable likelihood the
result would be more accurate or probative than the results of the previous test.
Accordingly, [Booker’s I motions are DENIED.
Booker filed this appeal of the trial court’s August 9, 2011 order.
5
The State has not filed a brief or otherwise participated in this appeal.
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Points ol LITOr Nos. I and 4
Booker s lust and lourth points of error are related and essentially argue the same matters.
iheretore. we consider them together.
In Booker s lirsi point ol error, he asserts the trial court CiTed jil denvinv his second i1OtiOfl
br post—conviction borensic J)NA testing of “untested biological evidence. According to Hooker.
the record “clearly established” biological evidence remained in the possession of the State and had
not been tested.
In his fourth point of error, Booker asserts the State “failed to uphold its burden beyond a
reasonable doubt by not testing pieces of evidence, which may have been exculpatory, inculpatory.
or inconclusive.’ Booker states evidence he sought to have tested “existed and that there was a
greater than a fifty percent chance he would not have been convicted if exculpatory results were
obtained. Booker points to the post—conviction DNA testing conducted by the DPS Crime
Laboratory and the testimony at the hearing regarding that testing, wherein DNA analyst Beasley
testified she was able to obtain extracts from the lemale portion of the victim’s vaginal, hut ihe State
had not provided a sample from the victim to compare to the female’s extracts.
Standard of Review
The ruling on a motion for DNA testing is reviewed under a bifurcated standard of review.
See Whitaker i. State, 160 S.W.3d 5, 8 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). In Rivera v. State, 89 S.W.3d 55
(Tex. Crirn. App. 2002), the court of criminal appeals determined that the appropriate standard of
review in making the determination under article 64.03(a)(2)(A) is the standard set forth in Gu:maii
v. State. 955 S.W.2d 85 (Tex. Crim. App.1997). Rivera. 89 S.W.3d at 59. Under this standard, we
afford almost total deference to a trial court’s determination of issues of historical fact and its
application of the law to fact issues that turn on determinations of witnesses’ credibility and
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demeanor, and e review de novo the trial court s app! ication ol the law to lict issues that do riot
turn on determinations of witnesses credibility and demeanor, Id. (reviewing de novo “ultimate
question of whether a reasonable probability exists that exculpatory DNA tests would prove
innocence’): (Ju:inan, 955 S.W.2d at 89.
Bookers second motion br postconviclion lorensic [)NA testing sought testing of
biological evidence which, according to Booker, “the record clearly established remained in the
possession of the State.” The version of article 64.() I in effect at the time of the filing of Booker’s
second motion for post—conviction forensic DNA testing provided that a convicted person may
submit to the eonvictmg court a motion for forensic l)NA testing of evidence that was secured in
relation to the offense that is the basis of the challenged conviction and was in the possession of the
state during the trial of the offense, but:
(I) was not previously subjected to DNA testing:
(A) because DNA testing was:
(i) not available: or
(ii) available. but not technologically capable of providing probative results or
(B ) through no limIt of the convicted person. br reasons that are of a nature such that
the interests of justice require DNA testing; or
(2) although previously subjected to DNA testing, can be subjected to testing with
newer testing techniques that provide a reasonable likelihood of results that are more
accurate and probative than the results of the previous test.
Act of May 24.2007.80th Leg.. R.S.. ch. 1006. §2, 2007 Tex. Gen. Laws 3523—24 (amended 2011)
(current version at TEx. CoDE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 64.01(b)(West Supp. 2011)).
Under article 64.03 of the code of criminal procedure, a convicting court may order forensic
DNA testing only if the court finds (1) the evidence still exists, is in a condition making DNA testing
possible. and has been subjected to a chain of custody sufficient to establish that it has not been
substituted, tampered with, replaced, or altered in any material respect; and (2) identity was or is an
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issue in the case. lix. ( ou CRIM, PIwC. ANN. art. 64.03(a) (West 2011 .“ “The conk let me trial
court shall order that the requested forensic DNA testing he conducted’ only if it finds that
untainted, testable biological evidence exists, that the identity ol the perpetrator was an issue (Art.
64.03( a )( l). and that the convicted person meets the requirements of Art. 64.03(a)( 2).” Lea! v.
Shire, 303 S.W.3d 292, 296—97 (‘fex, Crim. App. 2009) (quoting Fux. CoDuC1IM, PROC. ANN. all.
64.03(c)); see also Prible v, State. 245 S.W.3d 466, 467—68 (Tex, Crim. App. 2008) (defendant not
dntitle(l to DNA testinz under article 64.03 unless he shows “that unaltered evidence is available br
testing; that identity was an issue in the case: that there is greater than a 50 chance that he would
not have been convicted if DNA testing provided exculpatory results; and that the request is not to
delay the execution of the sentence.”).
In his second motion for post—conviction forensic DNA testing. Booker urged the trial court
to “focus on the vaginal swab” of the victim. However, as reflected in the March 12, 2003 testimony
and the May 20, 2002 report of the DNA analyst who performed the DNA testing of the vaginal
swab and Booker’s blood sample drawn in 2002 pursuant to Booker’s first motion for forensic DNA
Article 64.03 of the code of criminal procedure provides:
(a) A convicting court may order tbrensic DNA testing under this chapter only if:
I ) the court finds that:
(A) the evidence:
still exists and is in a condition making DNA testing possible: and
ii) has been subjected to a chain of custody stilficient to establish that it has not been substituted, tampered with, replaced.
or altered in mv material respect: and
B) identity was or is an issue in the case: and
(2) the cons trted person establishes by a preponder:inee 01 the evidence that:
(A) the person would not have been convicted if exculpatory results had been obtained through DNA iesting: and
(B) the request for the proposed DNA testing is not m:ide to unreasonably delay the execution of sentence or administration
of justice.
(c) If the convicting court linds in the alhrmative the issues listed in Subsection (a)(l ) and the convicted person meets the
requirements of Subsection) a)(2), the court shall order that the requested forensic DNA testing he conducted. The court may
order the test to he conducted by-:
(I) the Department of Public Safety:
(2) a laboratory operating under a contract xx Oh the department: or
on the request of the convicted person. another lahoraiorx if that laboratory is accredited under Section 11 1.0205.
Government Code.
TEx. CODE CRtNI. PROC. ANN. art. 64.03 (West Supp. 2011).
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testing, the vaginal swab specimen was consumed in the DNA analysis and there is no more of the
speclincli let t. l3easlcv test IhC(l she was not aware ol any additional samples available in this case.
iheretore, the evidence at the March 12, 2003 hearing established that the evidence of the vaginal
svab no lonner exists, making further 1)NA testing of sperm from the victim’s vaginal swab
impossible. We also note here that in Booker!!, in response to Booker’s point of error regarding the
trial courts purportcd error in not appointing an expert in the field of l)NA research to conduct DNA
testing independent of the DNA testing performed by the DPS Crime Laboratory, this Court noted
such additional testing “would have been impossible to perform because the testing by the DPS
I
Crime Laboratoryl consumed the I vaginall swab, leaving nothing for further testing.” Booker!!, 155
S.W.3d at 265.
Under article 64.03 of the code of criminal procedure, a convicting court may order forensic
DNA testing oniy if the court finds the evidence still exists and is in a condition making DNA testing
possible .See TEx. Coon CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 64.03(a)( 1 )(A)(i); Watson ‘i’. State. C)6 S.W.3d 497,
499 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2002. pet. ref’d) (evidence at hearing on appellant’s motion ftr post-
conviction forensic DNA testing (lid not show that the evidence still existed and was in a condition
making DNA testing possible). Accordingly, based upon our review of the trial court’s application
of the law to the fact issues of the case, we conclude the trial court did not err in denying Booker’s
second motion for postconviction forensic DNA testing when the record establishes the evidence
no longer exists.
In his appellate brief, Booker also refers to the State’s purported failure “to obtain a sample
for comparisons from the other victim’ of Ithe State’sJ case.” The record in this matter reflects no
[3casle s reportofflects that Bookers remaining blood specimens wtllcontinue to hestored froten to preserve the biological constituents.
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other” victim of an ot tcnse for which Booker was prosecuted. See Bok’r J I Q3 WL 541415. at
I Ilowever, apparently Booker refers to the testimony elicited from Ileaslev regarding the
extracts obtained from the victini’s vaginal swab (luring the DNA testing at the DPS Crime
I ahoraiorv.
At the March 12. 2003 hearing. I3easley testified that when testing samples from vaginal
swabs that have the possibility of containing seminal fluid and vaginal epithelial cells, differential
extraction will first recover DNA from the epilhclial cell portion which is associated with the victim.
The second step in the extraction is to recover DNA from the sperm cell fraction. Once the
differential extraction is (lone, the DNA samples are treated separately and “run” separately. Each
1)NA profile is examined separately and interpreted. Beasley’s report regarding the DNA testing
rellects this di fierential extraction was performed here: “The vaginal swab was extracted by a Iwo—
step method that first recovers DNA from non—sperm cells usually associated with the victim (the
epithelial cell fraction), and then recovers DNA from any sperm cells (the sperm fraction).”
Beasley’s report reflects that the partial DNA profile from the sperm fraction of the vaginal
swab is consistent with the DNA profile of Booker. Beasley testified that in the DNA testing she
performed here, the victim’s vaginal swab epithelial cell fraction indicated “no reaction.” Beasley
did not “run” the remainder of the vaginal epithehial cell fraction, because she did not have a sample
from the victim to which she could compare the epithelial cells, and there was no reason to perform
that test.
Under ailicle 64.03 of the code of criminal procedure, a convicting court may order forensic
DNA testing only if the court Finds identity was or is an issue in the case. TEx. CODE CRIM. PROC.
ANN. art. 64.03(a)( l)(B). “The identity requirement in Chapter 64 relates to the issue of identity as
it pertains to the DNA evidence. Therefore, if DNA testing would not determine the identity of the
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person who committed the offense or would not exculpate the accused, then the requirement of ArL
64,03(a)(2)(A) has not been met,” Prihie, 245 S.W.3d at 470. Here, the female victim’s epithelial
cell fraction as separated in the DNA testing from the sperm fraction of the vaginal swab would not
exclude or exculpate Booker, Evidence of the victnn’s DNA in addition to Booker’s is not
exculpatory evidence. See id. (“Thus, even if the evidence was retested and determined to contain
another person’s DNA in addition to Appellant’s DNA, it would not establish by preponderance of
the evidence that Appellant would not have been convicted if the jury had heard that DNA from a
thirdparty was present.”); Bell v. State, 90 S.W.3d 301, 306 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (presence of
another person’s DNA at the crime scene will not, without more, constitute affirmative evidence of
appellant’s innocence, and, where appellant set forth only bare assertion that biological samples in
question might belong to someone else, this was not sufficient); see also Prible, 245 S.W.3d at 469
(“There is no constitutional right to postconviction DNA testing in order to determine the presence
of a thirdparty’s DNA.”).
“Article 64.03(a)(2)(A) requires the convicted individual to establish by a preponderance of
the evidence that a reasonable probability exists that he or she would not have been prosecuted or
convicted if exculpatory results had been obtained through DNA testing.” Skinner v. State, 122
S.W.3d 808,811 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); see also Tux, C0DECRIM. PROC. ANN. art, 64.03(a)(2)(A).
The Court of Criminal Appeals has interpreted that language as meaning “a reasonable probability
exists that exculpatory DNA tests will prove a convicted individual’s innocence.” Skinner, 122
S.W.3d at 811 (citing Kutzner v. State, 75 S.W.3d 427, 438 (Tex. Crirn. App. 2002)). “A trial court
is never required to grant a convicted person’s request for testing absent . . . a showing” that a
reasonable probability exists that he would not have been prosecuted or convicted if exculpatory
results had been obtained through DNA testing. Dinkins v. State, 84 S.W.3d 639, 643 (Tex. Crim.
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\pp. 20()2. Alter revics mu the icoid. we conclude the record supports the conclusion that Booker
tailed to satislv his burden ol showinu under article 6403(a >{ 2)(A > thai exculpatory iesuits could be
produced to paoe his innocence. Because Booker has laded to satisfy the requirements of chapter
64, we conclude the convicting court did not erroneously deny his second motion for post-conviction
forensic DNA testing.
We resolve Booker’s first and fourth points of error against him.
Points of Error Nos. 2 and 3
Booker’s second and third points of error are related and essentially argue the same matters.
Accordingly. we consider them together.
In his second point of error, Booker contends the State’s “refusal to respond or refusal to
release” the “untested items” has “deprived him of his liberty interest in utilizing state procedures
to obtain a reversal of his conviction and/or obtain a pardoti, reduction of sentence through executive
clemency which denies him of Isici procedural due process.” According to Booker, because the
State did not respond to his second motion for post-conviction forensic DNA testing, the trial court
“never had an opportunity to know if the items to he tested existed.” The relief Booker seeks in his
second point of error is a requirement that the State respond to his second motion for post-conviction
forensic DNA testing and reversal of the trial court’s denial of his second motion for post-conviction
forensic DNA testing.
In his third point of error. Booker contends the trial court “violated the principles of appellate
review” by failing to provide meaningful chapter 64 findings. Booker argues article 64.02 of the
code of criminal procedure was violated because the State did not deliver purportedly existing
evidence to the trial court or a written explanation of why the purportedly existent evidence could
not be delivered to the trial court.
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We are i ii wr taded by i3ooker’ s second and third points of error. As discussed above with
regard to Ii is I irsi and luurtli points ol error, it was determined at the hearing on Booker’s first
motion for DNA test mu and reflected in the report of that testing, that the vaginal swab was
consumed in the test in perlormed b the l)PS Crime Laboratory. See Booker 1!. 1 55 S.W.3d at 265
(in response to Booker s point of error regarding the trial courts purported error in Hot appointing
an expert in the held of DNA research to conduct DNA testing independent of the DNA testing
performed by the DPS Crime Laboratory, such additional testing “would have been impossible to
perform because the testing by the IDPS Crime Lahoratoryl consumed the ivaginall swab, leaving
nothing for further testing.”).
Further, the trial court (lid not err in proceeding under article 64.03 without a response from
the State to Bookers second motion for postconvict1on forensic DNA testing. “There is no free
standing due-process right to DNA testing, and the task of fashioning rules to ‘harness DNA’s power
to prove innocence without unnecessarily overthrowing the established system of criminal justice’
belongs ‘primarily to the legislature.’” Lv par/c Guiierrez, 337 S.W.3d 883. 889 (Tex. Crim. App.
2011) (quoting Dix!. Attorney’s Office v. Osborne, 557 U.S. 52, 62 (2009)). Article 64.02 provides
that, upon receipt of a motion for forensic DNA testing, the convicting court shall require the
attorney representing the State to take one of the following actions not later than the sixtieth day after
the motion is served on the State: deliver the evidence to the court, along with a description of the
condition of the evidence, or explain in writing to the court why the State cannot deliver the evidence
to the court. Thx. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 64.02(a)(2) (West Supp. 2011). Article 64.03 does
Hot require any evidentiary hearing before the trial judge decides whether a convicted person is
entitled to DNA testing. Exparte Gutierre, 337 S.W.3d at 893; see a/so Rii’era, 89 S.W.3d at
58—59. Article 64.02(b) specifically provides “the convicting court may proceed under article 64.03
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allcr the sixty davi response period described by Subsection (a)(2) has expired, regardless of
whether the attumcv represent tug the state submitted a response under ihat subsect ion.” Tux. (‘ lIii
( k1M. PRx:. ANN. art. tt4.02(h): see 0/5(1 Sej’eda e. Sinie. 301 S.W.3d 372. 375 (Tex.
App.—Amaril In 200k). pet. ret’d (article (4.02(h) “allows the trial court to proceed aller the
response period expires and regardless of whether the State tiled a response ).
We resolve Booker’s second and third points of error against him.
Point of Error No. 5
In his fifth point of error, Booker asserts the trial court abused its discretion when it denied
his second motion ftr appointment of counsel. According to Booker, if the trial court had appointed
him counsel in conjunction with his second motion for post—conviction forensic DNA testing,
counsel could have presented evidence to the court challenging the credibility of the State’s witness
at Booker’s trial, sought independent review of DNA tests at trial, located jurors that were misled
by the DNA “match” testimony at Booker’s trial, and shown a need for a defense expert.
The arguments Booker advances [or his contention that the trial court ciTed in denying his
motion for appointment of counsel focus on what counsel could purportedly have done to address
matters involving Booker’s trial for the charged offense. Booker’s trial and conviction was the
subject of his first appeal, and the trial court’s judgment was affirmed. See Booker 1, 1993 WL
541415, at *1I
Further, appointment of counsel in a post-conviction DNA proceeding is not a purely
See also Morone i. Stale, No. 05-Il -()329-CR. 2() 12 WL 51)7126. at 3 (Tex, App—Dallas Mar. 13. 21)12. pet. filed) (not designated
for publication) (We also note that under article 64.020). the trial court was entitled to proceed under article 64.03 alter the response period expired.
regardless of hether the State tiled a response.1: In re 11’il/ianis. No. ((71 I -00429•CV. 2011 WL 5244959. at l (Tex. App—Amarillo Nov. 3.
2011, orig. proceeding)per curiam) (The convicting court may proceed under article 64.03 after the lapse of the sixty-day period, whether or not
the State responds to the motion —
We note the record reflects that up to the time of Booker’s second motions for post-conviction forensic testing and appointment
of counsel, at least four attorneys have been appointed to represent Booker, including counsel at trial.
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ministerial act. Sec In re Ludwig, 162 S.W3d 151, 455 (Tex. App.—Waco 2005, orig. proceeding).
An indigent cony icte(l person intending to tile a m t ion br post convict mu DNA testing has a
limited ris!ht to appointed counsel. Under article (4.() 1(c) of the code of criminal procedure.
entitlement 1<) appomninlent of counsel us conditioned on the trial judges finding that reasonable
!rom1ds exist for the tiling of a motion for postconvict1on DNA testing. Sct’ Act of May 24, 2007.
80th Leg., R.S.. ch. 1006, §2, 2007 Tex. Gen. Laws 352324 (amended 2011) (convicting court shall
appoint counsel for the convicted person if he informs the court he wishes to submit a motion under
chapter 64, the court finds reasonable grounds for a motion to be filed, and the court determines the
person is indigent); Gutierrez v. State, 307 S.W.3d 318, 321 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (entitlement
to appointment of counsel in postconviction DNA proceeding is determined by three criteria: (1
defendant must inform the convicting court that he wishes to submit a motion for DNA testing; (2)
the convicting court must find that “reasonable grounds” exist for filing a motion for DNA testing;
and (3) the convicting court must find that the movant is indigent): In re Ludwig, 162 S.W.3d at 455
(even if the convicting court determines that a convicted person is indigent, the court would not he
required to appoint counsel if it found there were no reasonable grounds for the motion for forensic
DNA testing to be filed); see also Hughes v. State, 135 S.W.3d 926, 928 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004,
pet. ref’d) (because there is no constitutional right to counsel in a proceeding under statutes
providing for forensic DNA testing, there is no constitutional right to effective assistance of’
counsel); Blake v. State. 208 S.W.3d 693,695—96 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006. no pet.) (trial courts
must now find reasonable grounds for the motion for DNA testing to he filed; concluding that
because the trial court had evidence no biological material still existed to submit for DNA testing,
trial court properly denied appointment of counsel because there were no reasonable grounds for a
chapter 64 motion for DNA testing to be filed).
—15—
In our d lscUSJ)fl ol Booker s content ions reaI(1m2 his second motion br post-conviction
borensic DNA testing, we concluded Booker failed to provide reasonable grounds for his fliotioll.
Having determined that Booker failed to meet the statutory requirements of articles 64.01 and 64.03,
the trial court s decision denying Booker’ s second motion for post-conviction forensic DNA testing
was not error. Ilence, we cannot say that the trial court erred in denyin2 Bookers second motion
br appointment of counsel See Thx. (‘onu CRIM. PRO’. ANN. arts. 64.01 & 64.03 In re I_udwi,’,
162 S.W.3d at 455. We resolve Booker’s fifth point of error against him.
Conclusion
Having resolved l3ooker’s points of error against him, we allirm the trial courts Augnst 9.
2011 order denying Booker’ s second motions for post-conviction forensic DNA testing and for
appointment of counsel.
(4
ROBERT M. FILLMORE
JUSTICE
1)o Not Publish
Tux, R. App. P. 47
111 141F.U05
—16—
(tnirt iii Appcthi
.iItIi Oi%tnrt Li LX&I M OZI11a
JUDGMENT
JIMMY SQL BOOKER, Appellant Appeal from the 86th Judicial District Couii
of Kaufman County, Texas. (Tr.Ct. No.
No. (>5i 1)l I4LCR V. 16390).
Opinion delivered by Justice Fillmore.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appel lee Justices Moseley and Myers participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, we AFFIRM the trial court’s August 9, 2011 order
denying appellant’s second motions for postconvicLion forensic DNA testing and for appointment
of counsel.
Judgment entered December 21 2012.
.
ROBERT M. FILLMORE
JUSTICE