Opinion
No. 05-14-01606-CR No. 05-14-01607-CR No. 05-14-01608-CR
05-20-2015
JOE LEWIS, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 6 Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause Nos. F13-41242-X, F13-41243-X, F13-41244-X
ORDER
The reporter's record is overdue in these appeals. We also note that the trial court's certification of appellant's right to appeal in each case is incomplete because none of the boxes is checked.
Accordingly, we ORDER the trial court to prepare certifications of appellant's right to appeal for these cases that accurately reflect the trial court proceedings. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a), (d); Cortez v. State, 420 S.W.3d 803 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
We further ORDER the trial court to make findings of fact regarding whether appellant has been deprived of the reporter's record because of ineffective counsel, indigence, or for any other reason.
• The trial court shall first determine whether appellant desires to prosecute the appeals. If the trial court determines that appellant does not desire to prosecute the appeals, it shall make a finding to that effect.
• If the trial court determines that appellant desires to prosecute the appeals, it shall next determine whether appellant is indigent and entitled to proceed without payment of costs for the reporter's record. If appellant is entitled to proceed without payment of costs, the trial court shall make a finding to that effect. Moreover, if appellant is indigent, the trial court is ORDERED to take such measures as may be necessary to assure effective representation, which may include appointment of new counsel. If the trial court finds appellant is not indigent, it shall determine whether retained counsel has abandoned the appeals.
• The trial court shall next determine: (1) the name and address of each court reporter who recorded the proceedings in this cause; (2) the court reporter's explanation for the delay in filing the reporter's record; and (3) the earliest date by which the reporter's record can be filed.
We ORDER the trial court to transmit a record, containing the written findings of fact, any supporting documentation, and any orders, to this Court within THIRTY DAYS of the date of this order. We further ORDER that the supplemental record contain the trial court's completed certifications of appellant's right to appeal.
The appeals are ABATED to allow the trial court to comply with this order. The appeals shall be reinstated thirty days from the date of this order or when the findings are received, whichever is earlier.
/s/ ADA BROWN
JUSTICE