Laird, Jeffrey Lewis

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: September 23, 2009
• Docket: WR-72,406-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

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NO. WR-72,406-01

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EX PARTE JEFFREY LEWIS LAIRD, Applicant

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ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

CAUSE NO. CR06-218HC IN THE 4^TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

FROM RUSK COUNTY

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           Per curiam.

O R D E R

            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 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 Sixth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. Laird v. State, No. 06-07-00171-CR (Tex. App. – Texarkana, July 8, 2008).

            Applicant contends that his appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel failed to timely notify Applicant that his conviction had been affirmed and failed to advise him of his right to petition for discretionary review pro se.

            The trial court appointed counsel to represent Applicant, and held a hearing on this habeas application. The trial court recommends granting Applicant the opportunity to file an out-of-time petition for discretionary review. However, the habeas record contains neither an affidavit from appellate counsel, nor a transcript of the habeas hearing.

            The trial court shall supplement the habeas record with a copy of the habeas hearing transcript. If appellate counsel did not testify at the habeas hearing, then the trial court shall also provide appellate counsel with an opportunity to respond, via affidavit, to the allegations in Applicant’s habeas writ, and shall supplement the record with a copy of such affidavit.

            This application will be held in abeyance until the trial court has supplemented the record. A supplemental transcript containing all affidavits and interrogatories or the transcription of the court reporter’s notes from any hearing or deposition, along with any supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall be returned to this Court within 90 days of the date of this order. Any extensions of time shall be obtained from this Court.

Filed: September 23, 2009

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