Opinion
Appellate case number: 01-12-00957-CR Trial court case number: 12CR0162
04-22-2014
David Angel Ramos v. The State of Texas
ORDER
Trial court: 10th District Court of Galveston County
Appellant's counsel has filed a "Motion for Leave to Withdraw." Because our opinion in this appeal has issued, appellant's "appeals are exhausted," counsel has fulfilled his duty to represent appellant, and we dismiss the motion as moot.
We issued our opinion in this appeal on January 7, 2014. Once our opinion issues, appointed counsel has the duty to inform appellant "of the result of the direct appeal and the availability of discretionary review." Ex parte Wilson, 956 S.W.2d 25, 27 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). "But, because there is no right to counsel on discretionary review, the duty of counsel ends there." Id.; see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. arts. 1.051(d)(2), 26.04(j)(2) (West Supp. 2013) (providing right to appointed counsel for eligible indigent defendant in Court of Criminal Appeals if appeal is directly from trial court or petition for discretionary review has been granted; requiring appointed counsel to represent defendant until "appeals are exhausted"); Ayala v. State, 633 S.W.2d 526, 528 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982) (holding that appointed counsel has no duty to file petition for discretion review on behalf of appellant). Therefore, although counsel may have a duty to inform appellant, if he has not already done so, of our decision and that appellant has the right to file a petition for discretionary review, counsel has fulfilled his duty to represent appellant in court proceedings.
Accordingly, counsel's motion is DISMISSED as moot. Judge's signature: Sherry Radack
[v] Acting individually [] Acting for the Court