Opinion
WR-95,023-01
09-06-2023
EX PARTE JAMES LEWIS COQUAT, Applicant
Do not publish
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. LCR190050 IN THE 156TH DISTRICT COURT FROM LIVE OAK COUNTY
ORDER
Per curiam.
Applicant was convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child and sentenced to fifty years' imprisonment. The Thirteenth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Coquat v. State, No. 13-21-00266-CR (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi - Edinburg August 30, 2022) (not designated for publication). Applicant filed this application for a writ of habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk forwarded it to this Court. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.07.
Applicant contends that both his trial counsel and appellate counsel were ineffective for various reasons. The habeas record contains no response from the State, no affidavit from trial or appellate counsel, and no findings of fact and conclusions of law from the trial court. Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). Accordingly, the record should be developed. The trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.07, § 3(d). The trial court shall order trial and appellate counsel to respond to Applicant's claims. In developing the record, the trial court may use any means set out in Article 11.07, § 3(d). If the trial court elects to hold a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent. If Applicant is indigent and wants to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint counsel to represent him at the hearing. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.04. If counsel is appointed or retained, the trial court shall immediately notify this Court of counsel's name.
The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether trial counsel's performance was deficient and Applicant was prejudiced. The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether appellate counsel's performance was deficient and Applicant was prejudiced. The trial court may make any other findings and conclusions that it deems appropriate in response to Applicant's claims.
The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law within ninety days from the date of this order. The district clerk shall then immediately forward to this Court the trial court's findings and conclusions and the record developed on remand, including, among other things, affidavits, motions, objections, proposed findings and conclusions, orders, and transcripts from hearings and depositions. See Tex. R. App. P. 73.4(b)(4). Any extensions of time must be requested by the trial court and obtained from this Court.