Opinion
12-22-00215-CR
08-15-2022
AARON CHANDLER GASTON, APPELLANT v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
APPEALED FROM COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO 2 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 21, 2022, the Docketing Statement was due to be filed. Tex.R.App.P. 32.2. On August 1, 2022, this Court notified Appellant that a Docketing Statement was to be filed and gave him until August 11, 2022, to file it. 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 Taylor Heaton, Judge of the County Court at Law No 2 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 Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
WITNESS the Honorable James T. Worthen, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals, 12thCourt of Appeals District of Texas, at Tyler.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL OF SAID COURT, at my office this 15th day of August 2022, A.D.