Opinion
04-22-00683-CR
04-14-2023
Francisco J. SANTOS, Appellant v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee
From the 406th Judicial District Court, Webb County, Texas Trial Court No. 2019CRB001398D4 Honorable Oscar J. Hale, Jr., Judge Presiding
ORDER
Irene Rios, Justice
On December 20, 2022, Joe Rubio and Oscar A. Vela, Jr., appellant's trial attorneys filed a motion to withdraw as counsel in this Court. Trial counsel filed a similar motion to withdraw on the same day in the trial court, which was granted by the trial court on January 4, 2023, and filed with the district clerk January 10, 2023. Therefore, trial counsel's motion to withdraw in this Court is MOOT.
On December 20, 2022, trial counsel also filed a motion to appoint appellate counsel, which the trial court granted and appointed Omar Salinas as appellant's counsel on appeal in an order filed with the district clerk January 10, 2023.
On December 21, 2022, Cody L. Cofer, on behalf of himself, James Luster, and Daniel E. Collins, filed a motion to substitute as appellant's retained counsel in this Court. On January 19, 2023, Omar Salinas filed a motion to withdraw as appellant's appellate counsel recognizing appellant retained Cody L. Cofer and that Cody L. Cofer filed a motion to substitute as appellant's appellate counsel.
We, therefore, GRANT Omar Salinas's motion to withdraw as appellant's appointed counsel on appeal. We further GRANT Cody L. Cofer's motion to substitute himself and James Luster and Daniel E. Collins as appellant's retained appellate counsel.