Opinion
NO. WR-87,650-01
12-06-2017
EX PARTE WILLIAM SMITH, Applicant
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 11-CR-0403-C IN THE 94TH DISTRICT COURT FROM NUECES COUNTY
Per curiam. ORDER
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 this application for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of driving while intoxicated and sentenced to twenty-five years' imprisonment. The Thirteenth Court of Appeals reversed his conviction. Smith v. State, No. 13-11-00694-CR (Tex. App. — Corpus Christi - Edinburg, Nov. 13, 2014). However, pursuant to the State's petition for discretionary review, this Court reversed the Court of Appeals' decision and remanded the matter to that court. Smith v. State, 499 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). The court of appeals thereafter affirmed the trial court's judgment.
Applicant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because trial counsel failed to timely object to the admission of blood test results, failed to pursue his objection to a final ruling, and failed to competently litigate a Fourth Amendment claim.
Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Patterson, 993 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). In these circumstances, additional facts are needed. As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 1960), the trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court shall order trial counsel to respond to Applicant's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court may use any means set out in TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d). In the appropriate case, the trial court may rely on its personal recollection. Id.
If the trial court elects to hold a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent. If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an attorney to represent Applicant at the hearing. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.04.
The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether the performance of Applicant's trial counsel was deficient and, if so, whether counsel's deficient performance prejudiced Applicant. The trial court shall also make any other findings of fact and conclusions of law that it deems relevant and appropriate to the disposition of Applicant's claim for habeas corpus relief.
This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues. The issues shall be resolved within 90 days of this order. A supplemental transcript containing all affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court reporter's notes from any hearing or deposition, along with the trial court's supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall be forwarded to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time must be requested by the trial court and shall be obtained from this Court. Filed: December 6, 2017
Do not publish