stating that presumption in favor of right to choice of counsel may be overridden by other factors relating to fair and orderly administration of justice
How later courts described this case
- stating that presumption in favor of right to choice of counsel may be overridden by other factors relating to fair and orderly administration of justice
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON
SECOND ORDER OF CONTINUING ABATEMENT
Appellate case name: Timothy Dynell George v. The State of Texas
Appellate case number: 01-15-00128-CR
Trial court case number: 1431234
Trial court: 185th District Court of Harris County
On March 10, 2016, after this appeal had been abated for a late-brief hearing, the
abatement hearing record was filed in this Court. During this hearing, the trial judge, the
Honorable Susan Brown, recounted the trial court coordinator’s difficulties over the past
several months in trying to locate either appellant’s counsel, Robert T. Wallace, or
appellant, Timothy Dynell George. At the end of the hearing, the trial judge noted that if
appellant “resurfaces, the Court will certainly make every effort to determine where he
stands with this appeal and appoint counsel to continue the appeal, if necessary.”
On March 15, 2016, this Court’s Order of Continuing Abatement abated and
remanded for the trial court to enter findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding
whether to relieve counsel of his duties and whether the appellant had abandoned this
appeal, for purposes of this Court moving forward to decide this appeal without briefs.
See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(b)(4).
On March 21, 2016, the supplemental clerk’s record was filed in this Court and
contains a docket sheet entry referring to the above abatement hearing held on March 10,
2016, but it did not contain the requested findings and conclusions. Rule 44.4 states that
an appellate court must not affirm a judgment or dismiss an appeal if the trial court can
correct its action or failure to act. See TEX. R. APP. 44.4(a)(2).
After reviewing the district clerk’s website, it appears that appellant was indicted
on May 24, 2016, in two new cases, trial court cause numbers 1505539 and 1505540,
both of which are pending in the 184th District Court of Harris County before the
Honorable Jan Krocker. Thus, because it appears that appellant has resurfaced and can
be located now for a late-brief hearing, and because the trial judge continues to serve on
the district court, the error in this case is remediable. See TEX. R. APP. 44.4(a).
Accordingly, we sua sponte continue to abate this appeal and remand for the trial
court to immediately conduct a hearing at which a representative of the Harris County
District Attorney’s Office and appellant’s counsel, Robert T. Wallace, if he can be
located, shall be present. TEX. R. APP. 38.8(b)(2). Appellant shall also be present for the
hearing in person or, if appellant is incarcerated, at the trial court’s discretion, appellant
may participate in the hearing by closed-circuit video teleconferencing.1
The trial court shall have a court reporter record the hearing. The trial court is
directed to:
(1) make a finding on whether appellant wishes to prosecute this appeal;
(2) if appellant does wish to prosecute this appeal, determine whether counsel
Robert T. Wallace has abandoned this appeal;
(3) if counsel Robert T. Wallace has not abandoned this appeal:
a. inquire of counsel the reasons, if any, that he has failed to file a brief
timely on appellant’s behalf; and
b. set a date certain when appellant’s brief will be due, regardless of
whether this Court has yet reinstated this appeal and no later than 30
days from the date of the hearing;
(4) if Robert T. Wallace cannot be located or has abandoned this appeal, enter a
written order relieving Robert T. Wallace of his duties as appellant’s counsel,
including in the order the basis for the finding of abandonment, determine
whether appellant is indigent, and:
a. if appellant is still indigent, appoint substitute appellate counsel at no
expense to appellant;
b. if appellant is not indigent and wishes to proceed pro se, admonish
appellant of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation,
and:
i. determine whether appellant is knowingly and intelligently
waiving his right to counsel, and
ii. determine whether any decision by appellant to proceed pro se is
in the best interest of appellant, the State, and the administration
of justice; and
1 Any such teleconference must use a closed-circuit video teleconferencing system
that provides for a simultaneous compressed full motion video and interactive
communication of image and sound between the trial court, appellant, and any
attorneys representing the State or appellant. On request of appellant, appellant
and his counsel shall be able to communicate privately without being recorded or
heard by the trial court or the attorney representing the State.
iii. if so, obtain a written waiver of the right to counsel and set a date
certain when appellant’s brief will be due, regardless of whether
this Court has yet reinstated this appeal and no later than 30 days
from the date of the hearing; or
iv. if appellant does not wish to proceed pro se, provide a deadline
by which appellant must hire an attorney;
(5) make any other findings and recommendations the trial court deems
appropriate; and
(6) enter written findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations as to
these issues, separate and apart from any docket sheet notations.
See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.051(a), (d)(1), (f) (West Supp. 2016); TEX. R.
APP. P. 38.8(b); Gonzalez v. State, 117 S.W.3d 831, 837 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (stating
that presumption in favor of right to choice of counsel may be overridden by other factors
relating to fair and orderly administration of justice); cf. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN.
art. 1.051(g) (requiring trial court to advise defendant of dangers and disadvantages of
self-representation prior to proceeding to trial), 26.04(j)(2) (authorizing trial court to
order appointed counsel to withdraw after finding of good cause is entered on record).
The court coordinator of the trial court shall set a hearing date no later than 30
days from the date of this order and notify the parties and the Clerk of this Court of
such date. The trial court clerk is directed to file a supplemental clerk’s record containing
the trial court’s findings and recommendations with this Court within 30 days of the date
of the hearing. The court reporter is directed to file the reporter’s record of the hearing
within 30 days of the date of the hearing. If the hearing is conducted by video
teleconference, a certified video recording of the hearing shall also be filed in this Court
within 30 days of the date of this hearing.
This appeal is abated, treated as a closed case, and removed from this Court’s
active docket. This appeal will be reinstated on this Court’s active docket when the
supplemental clerk’s record and the supplemental reporter’s record, if any, are filed in
this Court. If the trial court finds that appellant no longer desires to prosecute this appeal,
via written order, this Court may move forward to consider and decide this appeal
without a brief from appellant. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(b)(4).
It is so ORDERED.
Judge’s signature: /s/ Laura Carter Higley
Acting individually
Date: October 20, 2016