Jack Herbert Thomas v. the State of Texas

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: November 12, 2025
• Docket: 09-25-00061-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

__________________

NO. 09-25-00061-CR __________________

JACK HERBERT THOMAS, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

__________________________________________________________________

On Appeal from the 359th District Court Montgomery County, Texas Trial Cause No. 23-05-06211 __________________________________________________________________

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Jack Herbert Thomas appeals his conviction for unlawful possession of a

firearm by a felon, a third-degree felony. 1 After filing the notice of appeal, the trial

court appointed an attorney to represent Thomas in his appeal. The attorney

discharged his responsibilities to Thomas by filing an Anders brief. 2

1 See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 46.04(e). 2 See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967). 1 In the brief, Thomas’s attorney represents there are no arguable reversible

errors to be addressed in Thomas’s appeal. 3 The brief the attorney filed contains a

professional evaluation of the record. In the brief, Thomas’s attorney explains why,

under the record in Thomas’s case, no arguable issues exist to reverse the trial court’s

judgment.4 Thomas’s attorney also represents that he sent Thomas a copy of the brief

and the record. When the brief was filed, the Clerk of the Ninth Court of Appeals

notified Thomas, by letter, that he could file a pro se brief or response with the Court

on or before August 27, 2025. Thomas filed a pro se brief on September 9, 2025.

When an attorney files an Anders brief, we are required to independently

examine the record and determine whether the attorney assigned to represent the

defendant has a non-frivolous argument that would support the appeal. 5 After

reviewing the clerk’s record, the reporter’s record, the attorney’s brief, and the pro

se brief, we agree there are no arguable grounds to support the appeal. 6 Thus, it

3 See id.; High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978) (generally). 4 See Anders, 368 U.S. at 744. 5 Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80 (1988) (citing Anders, 386 U.S. at 744). 6 See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 827-28 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (“Due to the nature of Anders briefs, by indicating in the opinion that it considered the issues raised in the briefs and reviewed the record for reversible error but found none, the court of appeals met the requirements of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 47.1.”). 2 follows the appeal is frivolous. 7 For that reason, we need not require the trial court

to appoint another attorney to re-brief the appeal.8

The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

AFFIRMED.

KENT CHAMBERS Justice

Submitted on October 31, 2025 Opinion Delivered November 12, 2025 Do Not Publish

Before Golemon, C.J., Wright and Chambers, JJ.

Id. at 826-27. 7

See Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Thomas 8

may challenge our decision in the case by filing a petition for discretionary review. See Tex. R. App. P. 68. 3