Opinion
No. 05-14-00884-CR
01-15-2015
RACHEAL MEACHELL MATHEWS, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 380th Judicial District Court Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 380-82553-2013
ORDER
The reporter's record is overdue in this appeal. We also note that the Court has not received the trial court's certification of appellant's right to appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a), (d); Cortez v. State, 420 S.W.3d 803 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
Accordingly, we ORDER the trial court to make findings of fact regarding whether appellant has been deprived of the reporter's record because of ineffective 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) the name and address of each court reporter who recorded the proceedings in this cause; (2) the court reporter's explanation for the delay in filing the reporter's record; and (3) the earliest date by which the reporter's record can be filed.
We ORDER the trial court to transmit a record, containing the written findings of fact, any supporting documentation, and any orders, to this Court within THIRTY DAYS of the date of this order. We further ORDER that the trial court prepare a certification of appellant's right to appeal that accurately reflects the trial court proceedings for inclusion in the supplemental record with the findings.
We DIRECT the Clerk to send copies of this order, by electronic transmission, to the Honorable Benjamin Smith, Presiding Judge, 380th Judicial District Court, and to counsel for all parties.
The 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 findings are received, whichever is earlier.
/s/ ADA BROWN
JUSTICE