King, Courtland Wayne

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: July 1, 2015
• Docket: WR-72,077-02
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-72,077-02

EX PARTE COURTLAND WAYNE KING, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. W11-59371-U(A) IN THE 291ST DISTRICT COURT FROM DALLAS COUNTY

Per curiam.

ORDER

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the

clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court this application for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of capital murder

and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Fifth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. King v.

State, No. 05-12-00842-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas, Jan. 28, 2014) (not designated for publication).

Applicant contends, among other things, that his appellate counsel rendered ineffective

assistance because he did not recognize that the trial court granted of a motion for new trial and did

not take action accordingly. The habeas record contains no record of a motion for new trial, no 2

response from the State, and no findings from the trial court.

Applicant has alleged facts that, if true, might entitle him to relief. Smith v. Robbins, 528

U.S. 259, 285-86 (2000); Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). In these circumstances,

additional facts are needed. As we held in Ex parte Rodriguez, 334 S.W.2d 294, 294 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1960), the trial court is the appropriate forum for findings of fact. The trial court shall order

appellate counsel to respond to Applicant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court

may use any means set out in TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 11.07, § 3(d).

If the trial court elects to hold a hearing, it shall determine whether Applicant is indigent.

If Applicant is indigent and wishes to be represented by counsel, the trial court shall appoint an

attorney to represent Applicant at the hearing. TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. art. 26.04.

The trial court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether a motion for

new trial was granted in this case. If so, the trial court shall also make findings of fact and

conclusions of law as to whether appellate counsel’s performance was deficient and, if so, whether

counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced Applicant. The trial court shall also make any other

findings of fact and conclusions of law that it deems relevant and appropriate to the disposition of

Applicant’s claim for habeas corpus relief.

This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has resolved the fact issues. The

issues shall be resolved within 90 days of this order. A supplemental transcript containing all

affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court reporter’s notes from any hearing or

deposition, along with the trial court’s supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall

be forwarded to this Court within 120 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall

be obtained from this Court. 3

Filed: July 1, 2015 Do not publish