Opinion
NO. WR-87,872-01
12-19-2018
EX PARTE DAO MINH TRUONG, Jr., Applicant
OPINION
Per curiam.
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court this application for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte Young , 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of murder and sentenced to fifty-eight years' imprisonment. The Fifth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Truong v. State , No. 05-13-00939-CR, 2014 WL 5449747 (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 28, 2014) (not designated for publication).
Applicant contends, among other things, that trial counsel failed to investigate his mental health history and have him evaluated for competency.
The trial court has determined that counsel was deficient and his deficient conduct prejudiced Applicant. Relief is granted. The judgment in cause number 199-80748-2013 in the 199th District Court of Collin County is set aside, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Collin County to answer the charges as set out in the indictment. The trial court shall issue any necessary bench warrant within 10 days after the mandate of this Court issues.
Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.
Keller, P.J., filed a dissenting opinion in which Richardson, Yeary, and Keel, JJ., joined.
Keller, P.J., filed a dissenting opinion in which Richardson, Yeary and Keel, JJ., joined.
Applicant was tried for murder and convicted five years ago. He was sentenced to fifty-eight years' incarceration. In this habeas action, he claims that counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate and litigate his competency to stand trial. In Ex parte LaHood , we held that, to show prejudice for this type of claim, an applicant must show "a reasonable probability that he would have been found incompetent to stand trial if the issue of competency had been raised and fully considered." To meet this requirement for showing prejudice, Applicant produced expert testimony and affidavits and testimony from family members. The habeas court concluded that Applicant was incompetent to stand trial at the time of trial and recommended granting a new trial. This Court agrees and orders a new trial.In LaHood , in addition to his ineffective assistance claim, we filed and set the issue of what remedy is appropriate when counsel has been found ineffective for failing to properly litigate a claim of incompetency— "whether the proper remedy is to order a retrospective competency inquiry or to grant a new trial." We did not reach that issue in LaHood because we determined that LaHood had not met the prejudice prong of his ineffective assistance of counsel claim. We still have not addressed that issue, and it is ripe for examination in this case.
401 S.W.3d 45, 54 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
Applicant's expert indicated that Applicant is now incompetent to stand trial and would also have been incompetent at the time of trial.
Id. at 49.
Id. at 57.
When we reverse a case on direct appeal because the trial court has erroneously refused to hold a competency trial, the remedy is to remand to the trial court for a retrospective competency inquiry. It would be irrational to grant more relief on habeas for an ineffective assistance claim than would have been obtained on direct appeal for the underlying competency claim. Whether being deprived of a competency trial is caused by trial court error or by counsel's deficient performance, the result is the same, and the remedy should be the same.
Boyett v. State , 545 S.W.3d 556, 566 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018).
We have ordered retrospective competency inquiries in habeas proceedings when the claim is that an applicant was erroneously deprived of a competency determination. There is no logical reason to do otherwise when the deprivation of a competency trial is the result of counsel's deficient performance. Any competency trial should follow current statutory procedures, including the impaneling of a jury if requested by one of the parties.
Ex parte Harris , 592 S.W.2d 624, 625 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980) (remanding for a feasibility determination, and if feasible, a competency trial, then requiring record to be forwarded back to this Court for further disposition); Ex parte Winfrey , 581 S.W.2d 698, 699 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979) (holding that the trial court was to determine feasibility of a retrospective competency trial and if it was, conduct such a trial in accordance with statutory procedures, and if not, or if applicant was found incompetent after a retrospective competency trial, order a new trial). See also Ex parte Garrett , No. WR-75,447-01, 2011 WL 2382572, *1, 2011 Tex. Crim. App. Unpub. LEXIS 423, *1-2 (Tex. Crim. App. June 8, 2011) (not designated for publication) (remanding the case to conduct a retrospective competency hearing, which would include impaneling a jury, if requested by either party, as required by statute).
See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.051 ; see also supra at n.6.
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I would remand this case to the habeas court for a retrospective competency inquiry. Because the Court does not, I respectfully dissent.