Opinion
06-22-00142-CR
01-24-2023
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 272nd District Court Brazos County, Texas Trial Court No. 19-01071-CRF-272
Before Stevens, C.J., van Cleef and Rambin, JJ.
ORDER
Christopher Williams appeals his conviction of burglary of a habitation with the intent to commit a sexually assaultive offense and the resulting life sentence. In connection with his appeal, Williams has filed a motion in this Court explaining that the trial court sealed juror questionnaires and removed them from the district clerk's office. As a result, the questionnaires were not and cannot be filed as part of the appellate record. Williams further explained his need to access the sealed questionnaires for the purpose of raising a Batson point of error on appeal.
The trial court's order states, in pertinent part, "[T]he records attached to this order are sealed and may not be electronically imaged, examined, reviewed or copied by anyone, except upon written order of this court or any appellate court that may acquire jurisdiction over this case."
Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986).
In light of Williams's appeal, the sealed juror questionnaires must be filed in this Court. Accordingly, we order the Brazos County District Clerk to file the juror questionnaires in this Court, under seal, on or before Friday, January 27, 2023.
IT IS SO ORDERED.