DocketNumber: AP-76,693
Filed Date: 11/16/2011
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 9/16/2015
ON APPLICATIONS FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NOS. W05-53405-P(A), W05-53406-P(A) and W05-53407-P(A) IN THE 203rd DISTRICT COURT
FROM DALLAS COUNTY
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court these applications for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of aggravated robbery, two aggravated kidnappings and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in each cause.
Applicant contends, inter alia, that her counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he failed to timely file notices of appeal. We remanded this application to the trial court for findings of fact and conclusions of law.
The trial court has determined that counsel did not render ineffective assistance in these cases. However, the trial court also finds that Applicant did file timely pro se notices of appeal that were misplaced and never processed by the court clerks. We find that Applicant is entitled to the opportunity to file out-of-time appeals of the judgments of conviction in Cause Nos. W05-53405-P, W05-53406-P, and W-05-53407-P from the 203rd Judicial District Court of Dallas County. Applicant is ordered returned to that time at which she may give written notices of appeal so that she may then, with the aid of counsel, obtain meaningful appeals. Within ten days of the issuance of this opinion, the trial court shall determine whether Applicant is indigent. If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall immediately appoint an attorney to represent Applicant on direct appeal. All time limits shall be calculated as if these sentences had been imposed on the date on which the mandate of this Court issues. We hold that, should Applicant desire to prosecute any appeals, she must take affirmative steps to file written notices of appeal in the trial court within 30 days after the mandate of this Court issues.
Delivered: November 16, 2011
Do Not Publish