James Copeland v. State ( 2015 )

Order entered December 9, 2015 In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-15-00988-CR JAMES COPELAND, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee On Appeal from the 194th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. F11-58889-M ORDER The reporter’s record was due in this appeal on September 28, 2015. Deputy Court Reporter Janessa Thornell requested and received a sixty-day extension from the Court to file the reporter’s record. Rather than file the record by the extended deadline, Thornell has requested another forty-five day extension from the Court. Thornell’s December 4, 2015 request for a second extension to file the reporter’s record is DENIED. Because no reporter’s record has been filed within the time allowed, the trial court is ORDERED to make findings of fact regarding whether appellant has been deprived of the reporter’s record because of ineffective assistance of counsel, indigence, or for any other reason. The trial court shall first determine whether appellant desires to prosecute the appeal. If the trial court determines that appellant does not desire to prosecute the appeal, it shall make a finding to that effect. If the trial court determines that appellant desires to prosecute the appeal, it shall next determine whether appellant is indigent and entitled to proceed without payment of costs for the reporter’s record. If appellant is entitled to proceed without payment of costs, the trial court shall make a finding to that effect. Moreover, if appellant is indigent, the trial court is ORDERED to take such measures as may be necessary to assure effective representation, which may include appointment of new counsel. If the trial court finds appellant is not indigent, it shall determine whether retained counsel has abandoned the appeal. The trial court shall next determine: (1) whether appellant requested preparation of the reporter’s record; (2) the date such request was made; and (3) whether appellant, if not indigent, paid or made arrangements to pay for preparation of the reporter’s record. See TEX. R. APP. P. 35.3, 37.3. The trial court shall next determine: (1) the name and address of each court reporter who recorded the proceedings in this cause; (2) whether the notes from any hearings are available; (3) if available, whether the notes can be transcribed; (4) the name and address of the court reporter who will transcribe the notes; (5) the court reporter’s explanation for the delay in filing the reporter’s record; and (6) the earliest date by which the reporter’s record can be filed. We ORDER the trial court to transmit to this Court a supplemental clerk’s record, containing the written findings of fact, any recommendations, any supporting documentation, and any orders within THIRTY DAYS of the date of this order. –2– This appeal is ABATED to allow the trial court to comply with this order. The appeal shall be reinstated thirty days from the date of this order or when the supplemental record is received, whichever is earlier. /s/ LANA MYERS JUSTICE –3–