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Smith v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, En Banc
Nov 9, 1988
761 S.W.2d 17 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988)

Opinion

No. 787-87.

November 9, 1988.

Appeal from the 292nd Judicial District Court, Dallas County; Michael Keasler, J.

John H. Hagler, on appeal only, Dallas, for appellant.

John Vance, Dist. Atty., Pamela Sullivan Berdanier, Asst. Dist. Atty., Dallas, Robert Huttash, State's Atty., Austin, for the State.

Before the court en banc.

OPINION ON APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW


Appeal is taken from a conviction for the offense of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. After finding appellant guilty, the jury assessed punishment at fifty-five (55) years in the Texas Department of Corrections.

On direct appeal, Appellant argued the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the law concerning good time and parole, inasmuch as the charge is predicated upon an unconstitutional statute. The Court of Appeals rejected appellant's challenge to Article 37.07, § 4, V.A.C.C.P. in an unpublished opinion Smith v. State, 733 S.W.2d 604 (Tex.App. — Dallas, 1987).

In his petition for discretionary review, Appellant urges the Court of appeals erred in holding Article 37.07, § 4, supra, is constitutional. We find appellant is correct.

In Rose v. State, 752 S.W.2d 529 (Tex.Cr.App. 1988), this Court determined that Article 37.07, § 4, is unconstitutional. Under Rose, supra, it is still necessary for the Court of Appeals to conduct a harmless error analysis under the guidelines of Tex.R.App.Pro. 81(b)(2).

The judgment of the Court of Appeals is vacated and this case is remanded to that Court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.


Summaries of

Smith v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, En Banc
Nov 9, 1988
761 S.W.2d 17 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988)
Case details for

Smith v. State

Case Details

Full title:James Hayden SMITH, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee

Court:Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, En Banc

Date published: Nov 9, 1988

Citations

761 S.W.2d 17 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988)