Balderas, Juan

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-84,066-01

EX PARTE JUAN BALDERAS

ON MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS IN CAUSE NO. 1412826 IN THE 179 TH DISTRICT COURT HARRIS COUNTY

Per curiam.

ORDER

This case is before us because applicant has filed a motion for an extension of time

to file an application for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to the provisions of Texas Code

of Criminal Procedure Article 11.071.1

On March 14, 2014, a jury convicted applicant of capital murder and the trial court

1 Unless otherwise indicated all references to Articles refer to the Code of Criminal Procedure. Balderas - 2

sentenced him to death.2 The trial court immediately appointed the Office of Capital

Writs to represent applicant on an Article 11.071 writ application.3 During several

months of 2015, the Office of Capital Writs found itself in transition and without a

director. By Court appointment, the Office installed a new director on October 1, 2015.

On June 24, 2015, the State filed its brief on applicant’s direct appeal. Under

Article 11.071 § 4(b), this initially made applicant’s writ application due in the trial court

no later than August 8, 2015. Because the OCW timely requested and received the

statutorily allowed 90-day extension for filing, applicant’s writ application is now due in

the trial court on or before November 6, 2015. However, as the due date draws closer, the

new director of the OCW has expressed concern over whether he will have enough time

to complete his review of the case. Acknowledging that the trial court is without the

authority to grant the OCW another extension, the Office has filed with this Court an

early motion for an extension of time under Article 11.071 § 4A.4

Under the circumstances, this Court holds that the OCW has shown good cause

supporting its request for additional time to file applicant’s writ application. Although

the extension allowed by Article 11.071 § 4A is technically only invoked after a party has

2 Applicant’s direct appeal is currently pending before this Court. 3 The Office of Capital Writs has been renamed. It is now the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs. 4 The motion for an extension of time will not be sealed. However, the affidavit accompanying the motion shall be sealed by order of this Court. Balderas - 3

failed to timely filed a writ application, we grant the OCW’s preemptive motion and hold

that it shall have an additional 70 days from the day the writ application is currently due

to file the application. Thus, applicant’s writ application shall be due in the trial court on

or before January 15, 2016.

IT IS SO ORDERED THIS THE 5 TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2015.

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