Opinion
CAUSE NO. 12-20-00193-CR
10-07-2020
ROBERT L. CLARK, SR., APPELLANT v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
APPEALED FROM COUNTY COURT AT LAW IN AND FOR SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS
ORDER
Came on for review the status of the instant appeal, and the same having been considered, it appears that Appellant is not currently represented by counsel.
On July 29, 2014, the Docketing Statement was due to be filed. TEX. R. APP. P. 32.2. On August 11, 2020, this Court notified Appellant that a Docketing Statement was to be filed and gave him until August 24, 2020, to file it. Thereafter, when no Docketing Statement was filed, Appellant was again notified on September 25, 2020, that the Docketing Statement was past due and was given until October 5, 2020, to file a Docketing Statement. As of the date of this Order, no satisfactory response has been received.
Pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P. 32.2 it is ORDERED that the Honorable Jason A. Ellis, Judge of the County Court at Law of Smith County, shall immediately conduct a hearing to determine the cause of Appellant's failure to file the Docketing Statement and whether the Appellant has abandoned the appeal.
It is FURTHER ORDERED that the trial court determine whether: (1) Appellant is indigent and entitled to the appointment of counsel on appeal; (2) Appellant has sufficient funds to retain counsel; or (3) Appellant desires to represent himself on appeal.
It is ADDITIONALLY ORDERED that once findings are made as to the above issues, the trial court shall appoint counsel, give Appellant an appropriate deadline for retaining counsel, or administer the appropriate warnings concerning the dangers of self-representation, in accordance with its findings and the court shall also take necessary action to insure the prompt filing of the Docketing Statement with this Court.
It is FINALLY ORDERED that a supplemental record containing the court's findings of fact and conclusions of law and any appropriate order(s) attendant thereto be certified to this Court on or before Friday, November 6, 2020.
WITNESS the Honorable James T. Worthen, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals, 12 Court of Appeals District of Texas, at Tyler.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL OF SAID COURT, at my office this 7th day of October 2020, A.D.
/s/_________
KATRINA MCCLENNY, CLERK
12 COURT OF APPEALS