Ex Parte Gonzalez

323 S.W.3d 557, 2010 WL 3272405
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 10, 2010
Docket10-10-00029-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by160 cases

This text of 323 S.W.3d 557 (Ex Parte Gonzalez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ex Parte Gonzalez, 323 S.W.3d 557, 2010 WL 3272405 (Tex. Ct. App. 2010).

Opinion

OPINION

FELIPE REYNA, Justice.

Jose Jesus Gonzalez filed a habeas application under article 11.072 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking relief from a deferred adjudication order for indecency with a child. The court denied Gonzalez’s application without a hearing. Gonzalez contends in his sole issue that the court erred by resolving controverted facts against him without first conducting an evidentiary hearing. We will affirm.

Article 11.072

Article 11.072, section 6 provides in pertinent part:

(a) Not later than the 60th day after the day on which the state’s answer is filed, the trial court shall enter a written order granting or denying the relief sought in the application.
(b) In making its determination, the court may order affidavits, depositions, interrogatories, or a hearing, and may rely on the court’s personal recollection.
(c) If a hearing is ordered, the hearing may not be held before the eighth day after the day on which the applicant and the state are provided notice of the hearing.

Tex.Code Crim. Proo. Ann. art. 11.072, § 6(a)-(e) (Vernon 2005). 1

Based on the language of subsection (b) alone, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals has concluded that no evidentiary hearing is required under article 11.072. Ex parte Cummins, 169 S.W.3d 752, 757 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2005, no pet.). We agree with that conclusion, but we find further support for it in cases construing a similar provision in article 11.07. 2

Article 11.07, section 3(d) provides in pertinent part, “To resolve [controverted fact] issues the court may order affidavits, depositions, interrogatories, additional forensic testing, and hearings, as well as using personal recollection.” Tex.Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.07, § 3(d) (Vernon Supp.2009).

This language in article 11.07, section 3(d) has long been construed to mean that *559 a trial court is not required to conduct an evidentiary hearing to resolve controverted material fact issues in a postconviction habeas proceeding. See Ex parte Davila, 530 S.W.2d 543, 545 (Tex.Crim.App.1975) (op. on reh’g); In re Banister, No. 07-09-00117-CV, 2009 WL 1160966, at *1 (Tex.App.-Amarillo Apr. 30, 2009, orig. proceeding) (mem.op.); In re J.W.A., No. 03-03-00464-CV, 2005 WL 2574024, at *4 (Tex.App.-Austin Oct. 13, 2005, no pet.) (mem. op.).

“[W]hen a legislature reenacts a law using the same terms that have been judicially construed in a particular manner, one may reasonably infer that the legislature approved of the judicial interpretation.” State v. Medrano, 67 S.W.3d 892, 902 (Tex.Crim.App.2002).

Herrera Claims

The Beaumont Court of Appeals has recently held that an evidentiary hearing is required under article 11.072 if the habeas applicant makes a Herrera claim 3 supported by newly discovered, affirmative evidence of innocence and the trial judge before whom the habeas application is pending did not preside over the applicant’s trial. 4 See Ex parte Franklin, 310 S.W.3d 918, 921-23 (Tex.App.-Beaumont 2010, no pet.). The Beaumont Court cited Ex parte Brown, 205 S.W.3d 538 (Tex.Crim.App.2006), and Ex parte Franklin, 72 S.W.3d 671 (Tex.Crim.App.2002), 5 as compelling this conclusion. In our view, however, the cited authorities do not require an evidentiary hearing if the habeas judge is the same judge who presided over the applicant’s trial, and we do not address whether an evidentiary hearing is required if a different judge is called upon to decide the habeas application.

In Franklin, the Court of Criminal Appeals addressed the quality of newly discovered evidence required to even raise a controverted fact issue on a Herrera claim.

A conviction that results from a constitutionally error-free trial is entitled to the greatest respect. Accordingly, we hold that when an applicant asserts a Herrera-type claim based on newly discovered evidence, the evidence presented must constitute affirmative evidence of the applicant’s innocence. Once the applicant provides such evidence, it is then appropriate to proceed with a determi *560 nation of whether the applicant can prove by clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable juror would have convicted him in light of the newly discovered evidence.

Franklin, 72 S.W.3d at 677-78 (emphasis added) (citation and footnote omitted).

Later, in Brown, the Court of Criminal Appeals cited this paragraph in a discussion regarding an applicant’s “entitlement” to a hearing on a Herrera claim.

In Ex parte Franklin, this Court held that, before a habeas applicant is entitled to a heating, the applicant must make a claim that, if true, establishes affirmative evidence of his innocence. Then, at the hearing, the trial judge assesses the witnesses’ credibility, examines the “newly discovered evidence,” and determines whether that “new” evidence, when balanced against the “old” inculpatory evidence, unquestionably establishes the applicant’s innocence. The habeas judge then sets out findings of fact and conclusions of law, and he makes a recommendation to this Court. Upon submission to this Court, we review the factual findings with deference because the habeas judge is in the best position to make credibility judgments. Even though deference is the prescribed standard, we are not bound by the habe-as judge’s findings, conclusions, or recommendations when they are not supported by the record.

Brown, 205 S.W.3d at 546 (emphasis added) (footnotes omitted).

It is not this Court’s place to second guess the Court of Criminal Appeals. Nevertheless, it does not appear that that court actually subscribes to the principle that a habeas applicant is automatically entitled to a hearing if he produces affirmative evidence of innocence. For example, on May 19, 2010, the Court addressed a habeas application in which the applicant alleged ineffective-assistance claims and a claim “that he is actually innocent because the complainant recanted.” See Ex parte Culpepper, No. WR-66,569-03, 2010 WL 2006749, *1 (Tex.Crim.App. May 19, 2010) (per curiam) (not designated for publication).

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Bluebook (online)
323 S.W.3d 557, 2010 WL 3272405, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ex-parte-gonzalez-texapp-2010.