Opinion
No. 74,546.
January 22, 2003. DO NOT PUBLISH, Tex.R.App.P. 47.2(b).
Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus from Tarrant County.
OPINION
This is a post-conviction application for a writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant to Article 11.07, V.A.C.C.P. Applicant was convicted of capital murder and his punishment was assessed at life imprisonment. This conviction was affirmed, Wilson v. State, No. 02-97-766-CR (Tex.App.-Fort Worth, delivered May 6, 1999, no pet.). Applicant contends, inter alia, that he was denied an opportunity to file a petition for discretionary review because his appellate attorney did not notify him that the conviction had been affirmed or what he needed to do to file such a petition. An affidavit filed by appellate counsel states that counsel was not notified of the affirmance until after the mandate had issued, so did not send the letter notifying Applicant of the affirmance until it was too late to file a petition for discretionary review. Therefore, Applicant is entitled to relief. Ex parte Wilson, 965 S.W.2d 25 (Tex.Cr.App. 1997). The proper remedy in a case such as this is to return Applicant to the point at which he can file a petition for discretionary review. He may then follow the proper procedures in order that a meaningful petition for discretionary review may be filed. For purposes of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, all time limits shall be calculated as if the Court of Appeals' decision had been rendered on the day the mandate of this Court issues. We hold that should Applicant desire to seek discretionary review, he must take affirmative steps to see that his petition is filed in the Court of Appeals within thirty days after the mandate of this Court has issued. All other allegations are dismissed. See Ex parte Torres, 943 S.W.2d 469 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997).