Ex Parte Tarun Bhardwaj

575 S.W.3d 915

Opinion

IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-19-00032-CR

EX PARTE TARUN BHARDWAJ

From the 272nd District Court Brazos County, Texas Trial Court No. 16-03580-CRF-272

OPINION

This is an original habeas corpus proceeding filed in an intermediate appellate

court in Texas. The initial question in this proceeding is whether it is properly

characterized as a pretrial habeas corpus proceeding from a pending criminal case or

whether it is a habeas corpus proceeding challenging a confinement for some reason

other than due to a pending criminal proceeding, specifically a civil proceeding.

If this is a pretrial petition for a writ of habeas corpus from detention for a criminal

proceeding, we do not have jurisdiction of it. On the other hand, we do have jurisdiction

of some original habeas corpus proceedings if, among other criteria, they are properly

characterized as civil proceedings.

Bhardwaj’s detention clearly started as a criminal proceeding. His competency to stand trial was raised. It was determined that he was not, at that time, competent to stand

trial.

Bhardwaj had been detained for a substantial length of time before he filed a

petition for a writ of habeas corpus with this Court. The Court was concerned that a

pretrial detention to determine competency had been, or should be, converted to a civil

commitment proceeding of some type rather than proceed as a pretrial detention in a

criminal proceeding that could not be brought to a conclusion because the defendant was

not competent to stand trial and could thus potentially become involuntary restraint

without judicial review.

The Court asked the parties to address our concerns. Responding to our expressed

concerns as it related to the question of our jurisdiction the State filed a comprehensive

brief.1 The brief documents the extensive factual and procedural history in the trial court

and commitment proceedings. The brief then reviews the applicable law and again urged

the State’s motion to dismiss. The motion to dismiss, as does the brief, argues that

because this is a pretrial petition for a writ of habeas corpus in a pending criminal

proceeding, this intermediate appellate court has no jurisdiction. The motion thus seeks

dismissal for want of jurisdiction. We requested and received a response to the motion

1 We seldom see this issue or even closely related issues. We seldom receive extensive briefing on the narrow issue of our habeas corpus jurisdiction. Because we believe the legal research and analysis on the issue contained in the brief should be available to the judges and lawyers in Texas, we have attached the entire brief, excluding the exhibits attached to the brief, to this opinion as an appendix. We do not incorporate it, but we do make reference to it for a discussion of the factual background and procedural history of this proceeding as well as the applicable law. Because the State’s entire brief is attached, no useful purpose would be served for the Court to recite the facts, procedural history, or the relevant legal authorities herein.

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 2 to dismiss from Bhardwaj.

After due consideration of the State’s brief, the State’s motion to dismiss,

Bhardwaj’s response to the motion to dismiss, the record before us, and conducting our

own legal research, we agree with the State that the petition for a writ of habeas corpus,

filed while a criminal complaint/indictment is pending against the defendant but after a

determination of incompetency to stand trial during the period of time prior to a jury trial

on that issue, nevertheless remains a criminal proceeding over which this Court does not

have jurisdiction.

Accordingly we grant the State’s motion and dismiss this proceeding for want of

jurisdiction.

TOM GRAY Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Neill Appeal dismissed Opinion delivered and filed May 15, 2019 Publish [OT06]

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 3

ACCEPTED 10-19-00032-CR TENTH COURT OF APPEALS WACO, TEXAS 3/29/2019 2:43 PM SHARRI ROESSLER CLERK

FILED IN 10th COURT OF APPEALS WACO, TEXAS 3/29/2019 2:47:00 PM SHARRI ROESSLER Clerk

CASE NO. 10-19-00032-CR

EX PARTE § IN THE COURT OF APPEALS § TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT TARUN BHARDWAJ § OF TEXAS ______________________________________________________________________________

STATE’S RESPONSE TO APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS ______________________________________________________________________________

NOW COMES THE STATE OF TEXAS by and through her prosecuting attorney and in

opposition of the Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus respectfully states the following to the

Court based on its information and belief:

I.

The procedural history of Bhardwaj’s case is long and complicated. This is mostly due to

(a) the fact that Bhardwaj has frequently changed attorneys throughout the proceedings, (b)

Bhardwaj has refused to cooperate with the district court’s inquiry into the matter of his

competency to stand trial, (c) Bhardwaj has taken the unusual position of opposing any finding

that he is incompetent to stand trial in spite of the recommendations and opinions of his lawyers,

and (d) Bhardwaj’s mental illness causes him to believe that his attorneys are working against him.

The facts most directly responsive to this Court’s February 13, 2019 order are as follows:

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 4 1. The Brazos County grand jury indicted Bhardwaj on one count of Stalking (Tex. Penal Code §

42.072) on July 21, 2016. Exhibit 1 - Indictment.

2. Prior to his indictment, Bhardwaj already had two separate harassment charges pending.

3. Bhardwaj was arrested on two new misdemeanor charges on December 30, 2016.

4. Currently, Bhardwaj is detained pending trial on the felony stalking charge as well as two

misdemeanor charges of harassment, one charge of unlawful restraint, and one charge of resisting

arrest.

5. On January 30, 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed an immigration detainer

on Bhardwaj. Bhardwaj is being held without bond on the immigration detainer. Exhibit 2 - ICE

Detainer.

6. Pursuant to Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.005, Dr. Mary Conroy evaluated Bhardwaj

concerning his competency to stand trial. She concluded that it is “highly unlikely” Bhardwaj is

competent to stand trial. Exhibit 3 - Forensic Report of Dr. Conroy.

7. Bhardwaj requested a jury trial so that he might prove he was competent to stand trial and contest

Dr. Conroy’s opinion that he is mentally incompetent to stand trial. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc.

arts. 46B.005(c) and 46B.051.

8. After being represented at various stages of his pending criminal charges by attorneys Cam

Reynolds, Margaret Meece, Bash Sharma, Kaushik Rambhotla and Lane Thibodeaux, Bhardwaj

notified the court of his intention to proceed pro se. The court held a Faretta hearing and found

that (a) a substantial issue exists concerning Bhardwaj’s competency under the law; (b) Bhardwaj

is unable to voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently invoke his right to represent himself or waive

assistance of counsel; and, (c) Bhardwaj lacks the mental capacity to conduct his trial defense on

the issue of competency or on the merits unless represented by counsel. Exhibit 4 – Order Denying

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 5 Waiver of Counsel Assistance.

9. A jury trial was set for July 12, 2018, in order to determine whether Bhardwaj is competent to

stand trial. However, on the morning of trial, Bhardwaj waived the jury trial and the court

determined the issue of Bhardwaj’s competency pursuant to Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 46B.005

and 46B.054. The trial court found that Bhardwaj is incompetent to stand trial and ordered he be

committed to Austin State Hospital (“ASH”) for restoration to competency pursuant to Tex. Code

Crim. Proc. art. 46B.073. Exhibit 5 - Order of Incompetency to Stand Trial and Restoration

Commitment.

10. After attempting to restore Bhardwaj to competency, ASH reported to the trial court that he

remains incompetent to stand trial. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.079. Furthermore, ASH

found that Bhardwaj is not likely to be restored to legal competency within the foreseeable future

and that Bhardwaj meets the criteria for civil commitment. Exhibit 6 - Austin State Hospital

Forensic Report.

11. Upon Bhardwaj’s return from ASH neither party objected to the final report of ASH. See Tex.

Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.084.

12. On March 25, 2019, the district court entered judgment finding Bhardwaj incompetent to stand

trial pursuant to Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.084(a-1)(1). Exhibits 8 - Transcript of March 25,

2019 Status Hearing & 9 – Judgment Based on Final Report.

13. The felony stalking indictment pending against Bhardwaj has not been dismissed. See Tex.

Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.084(e).

14. Bhardwaj’s case is currently set for a jury trial on civil commitment pursuant to Tex. Code

Crim. Proc. art. 46B.084(e) and Subchapter E of Chapter 46B. Trial is set to commence on May

20, 2019. Exhibit 7 - Notice of Setting.

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 6 II.

Bhardwaj’s detention is criminal. He is currently under indictment for Stalking. See Tex.

Penal Code § 42.072. He is also charged by information with two counts of harassment, one count

of unlawful restraint, and one count of resisting arrest. Further, his detention is pursuant to an

immigration detainer placed on him by the United States government.

Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221 provides courts of appeals with limited writ power. Ex

parte Hawkins, 885 S.W.2d 586, 587 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1994, no writ). Section 22.221(d)

provides:

Concurrently with the supreme court, the court of appeals of a court of appeals district in which a person is restrained in his liberty, or a justice of the court of appeals, may issue a writ of habeas corpus when it appears that the restraint of liberty Is by virtue of an order, process or commitment issued by a court or judge because of the violation of an order, judgment or decree previously made, rendered, or entered by the court or judge in a civil case.

Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221(d) (emphasis added).

Thus, the original jurisdiction of a court of appeals to issue a writ of habeas corpus is

limited to those cases where a person’s liberty is restrained because the person has violated an

order, judgment, or decree entered in a civil case. The courts of appeals have no original habeas-

corpus jurisdiction in criminal matters. Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221(d). In re Ayers, 515 S.W.3d

356 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016, no pet.). Original jurisdiction to grant a writ of habeas

corpus in a criminal case is vested in the Court of Criminal Appeals, the district courts, the county

courts, or a judge in those courts. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.05; Ex parte Hawkins, 885 S.W.2d

at 588.

Bhardwaj’s detention is not related to of the “violation of an order, judgment or decree

previously made, rendered, or entered by the court or judge in a civil case.” Tex. Gov’t Code Ann.

§ 22.221(d). Instead, his detention is due to both a federal immigration detainer and his pending

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 7 criminal charges.

III.

This Court further ordered the State to address “whether, and at what point, [Bhardwaj’s]

confinement converts from criminal to civil confinement, if at all.” Initially, it is important to note

that Bhardwaj’s confinement is criminal in nature since he is currently charged with one felony

and four misdemeanors. Incompetency proceedings under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter

46B are ancillary to the criminal case. Jackson v. State, 548 S.W.2d 685, 690 (Tex. Crim. App.

1977). However, Bhardwaj is not in jail because of the incompetency proceedings. He is in jail

because of his pending criminal charges as well as his immigration detainer. If Bhardwaj’s

confinement converts to civil confinement at all, it would only be after the criminal charges against

him are dismissed and the trial court determines that there is evidence of mental illness or

retardation. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 46B.084(f), 46B.151. In such cases where the criminal

charges are dismissed – which in not the case with Bhardwaj – the criminal court transfers the case

to the appropriate civil court for civil commitment proceedings. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc.

Subchapter F.

In order to ensure a criminal defendant receives a fair trial, due process requires that a

defendant who is incompetent may not be put to trial. E.g., Cooper v. Oklahoma, 517 U.S. 348,

354, 116 S.Ct. 1373, 134 L.Ed.2d 498 (1996). When the issue of the competency of a criminal

defendant to stand trial is raised in the trial court, a finding of competency is a necessary

prerequisite of a criminal trial. Morales v. State, 830 S.W.2d 139, 140 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992)

adopting the opinion of the appellate court in Morales v. State, 801 S.W.2d 624, 625 (Tex. App.—

Dallas 1990). Consequently, a preliminary hearing to determine competency is ancillary to the

main criminal proceeding. Jackson, 548 S.W.2d at 690.

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 8 So long as the indictment is not dismissed, it is the criminal court that retains jurisdiction

over the inquiry into the defendant’s competency. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 46B.001, et seq.

Incompetency may be raised by either party, or the trial court may raise the issue of incompetency

sua sponte. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.004. It is the trial court that conducts the informal

inquiry and appoints experts to evaluate the mental competency of a defendant when evidence

exists to support a finding of incompetency. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 46B.004-.005. Once a

criminal defendant has been evaluated by an expert (see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 46B.021-

.0026), the trial court is designated by statute as the court with jurisdiction over a hearing to

determine incompetency. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 46B.005(c), 46B.051-.055.

Where the trial court initially determines, following a jury trial or a bench trial, that the

defendant is incompetent to stand trial, the trial court has the authority to commit the defendant to

an appropriate facility for inpatient or outpatient restoration of competency. Tex. Code Crim. Proc.

arts. 46B.071-.073. The responsibilities of the treatment facility are fully outlined in Chapter 46B,

Subchapter D. Once the treatment facility has fulfilled its responsibilities, the defendant returns to

the trial court and the court is required to make a determination of the defendant’s competency to

stand trial based on the final report from the treatment facility. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art.

46B.084(a). If the defendant is found by the court to be competent, the criminal proceedings

resume. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.084(d)(1). If the defendant is determined to be

incompetent to stand trial, then the criminal court proceeds either under Subchapter E or F,

depending on whether the criminal charges have been dismissed. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art.

46B.084(e), (f).

If the charges are not dismissed, as is the case with Bhardwaj, then the trial court determines

if there is evidence of mental illness. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.102. In such cases, the

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 9 criminal court conducts the commitment hearing for the defendant pursuant to Subtitle C, Title 7,

Health and Safety Code. Id. Bhardwaj is set for a commitment hearing on May 20, 2019, pursuant

to Subchapter E. See Exhibit 7 & 8.

Only when charges are dismissed does the criminal court transfer its jurisdiction over the

case to a civil court for civil commitment proceedings. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.151. At this

point, if Bhardwaj were still incarcerated, then his detention might possibly be characterized as a

civil detention. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 46B.151(c).

IV.

Finally, this Court has ordered the State to “address the procedure this Court should use to

address the application or this situation as presented.”

As the Court can glean from Bhardwaj’s writ, he insists he is competent to stand trial. Cases where

a criminal defendant opposes a trial court’s finding of incompetence are rare, but they do exist.

See, e.g., United States v. Boigegrain, 155 F.3d 1181, 1187 (10th Cir. 1998). Bhardwaj’s1

insistence upon his competence is contrary to the evidence and the trial court’s rulings. Bhardwaj

has been found incompetent by Dr. Conroy as well as his treatment team at Austin State Hospital.

See Exhibits 3 & 6. The trial court has also ruled that he is not competent to represent himself or

conduct his own defense on the issue of competency or on the merits of his criminal charges. See

Exhibit 4. Furthermore, Bhardwaj is represented in these matters (the issues of his competency

and the merits of his criminal charges) by attorney Lane Thibodeaux, who has been appointed by

the trial court. See Exhibit 8.

_________________ 1 Here, the State notes that Bhardwaj has filed this handwritten writ application pro se. The State does not presume to speak for Bhardwaj’s attorney on this matter whatsoever.

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 10 In response to the Court’s instruction to “address the procedure this Court should use to

address the application or this situation as presented,” the State would respectfully reurge its

motion to dismiss. Bhardwaj’s pretrial writ of habeas corpus seeks relief in a criminal case. Under

Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.221, courts of appeals do not have original jurisdiction in criminal cases. Ex

parte Hearon, 3 S.W.3d 650 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999, no pet.); Ex Parte Dennis, 10-17-00195-

CR, 2017 WL 3427560, at *1 (Tex. App.—Waco Aug. 9, 2017, no pet.); In re Letizia, No. 01-18-

01052-CR, 2019 WL 610772, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 14, 2019, no pet. h.).

PRAYER

Wherefore, premises considered, the State prays that this Court GRANT the State’s Motion

to Dismiss filed in this matter on February 6, 2019.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/

Nathaniel T. Wood Tx Bar 24062328 Assistant District Attorney Brazos County District Attorney’s Office 300 #. 26th St., Suite 310 Bryan, Texas 77803 979-361-4320 nwood@brazoscountytx.gov

Certificate of Service

I certify that I have delivered a true and correct copy of this filing to the following on March 29, 2018:

Lane Thibodeaux via email: lanet1@msn.com

/s/ Nathaniel T. Wood

Ex parte Bhardwaj Page 11