Cody Bright v. State

Opinion

Order entered December 17, 2013

In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-13-00997-CR No. 05-13-00998-CR

CODY BRIGHT, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 283rd Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause Nos. F12-23970-T, F12-23977-T

ORDER The Court ORDERS the trial court to make findings of fact regarding whether appellant

has been deprived of the clerk’s records 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 appeal, it shall next determine whether appellant is indigent and entitled to proceed without payment of costs for the clerk’s records. 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 appeal.  The trial court shall next determine: (1) whether appellant timely requested preparation of the clerk’s records; (2) whether appellant, if not indigent, has made payment arrangement for the clerk’s records; and (3) the date by which the clerk’s records will be filed.

We ORDER the trial court to transmit a supplemental 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.

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 supplemental record is

received, whichever is earlier.

/s/ LANA MYERS JUSTICE