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Hawkins v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, En Banc
Nov 9, 1988
761 S.W.2d 23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988)

Opinion

No. 116-88.

November 9, 1988.

Appeal from the Criminal District Court, Jefferson County; Larry Gist, J.

Warren L. Clark, Beaumont, for appellant.

Tom Maness, Dist. Atty., John R. DeWitt, Asst. Dist. Atty., Beaumont, Robert Huttash, State's Atty., Austin, for the State.

Before the court en banc.

OPINION ON APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW


Appeal is taken from a conviction for the offense of burglary of a habitation. After finding appellant guilty, the jury assessed punishment at 99 years.

On direct appeal, appellant argued the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the law concerning good time and parole, inasmuch as the charge is predicated upon an unconstitutional statute. The court of appeals rejected appellant's challenge to Article 37.07, § 4, V.A.C.C.P. Hawkins v. State, 744 S.W.2d 641 (Tex.App. — Beaumont 1987).

In his petition for discretionary review, appellant urges the court of appeals erred in holding Article 37.07, § 4, supra, is constitutional. We find appellant is correct.

In Rose v. State, 752 S.W.2d 529 (Tex.Cr.App. 1988), this Court determined that Article 37.07, § 4, is unconstitutional. Under Rose, supra, it is still necessary for the court of appeals to conduct a harmless error analysis under the guidelines of Tex.R.App.P. 81(b)(2).

The judgment of the court of appeals is vacated and this cause is remanded to that court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.


Summaries of

Hawkins v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, En Banc
Nov 9, 1988
761 S.W.2d 23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988)
Case details for

Hawkins v. State

Case Details

Full title:Alvin Lee HAWKINS, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee

Court:Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, En Banc

Date published: Nov 9, 1988

Citations

761 S.W.2d 23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988)

Citing Cases

Hawkins v. State

Rose v. State, 752 S.W.2d 529 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988). Upon Appellant's petition for discretionary review, the…