Miles, Jevon

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: June 8, 2015
• Docket: WR-83,403-02
• Status: Published

Opinion

WR-83,403-02 WR-83,403-01 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 6/5/2015 7:30:55 PM Accepted 6/8/2015 8:26:40 AM ABEL ACOSTA No. CLERK

RECEIVED COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS 6/8/2015 ABEL ACOSTA, CLERK

In Re Jevon Miles, Relator PETITION FOR WRITS OF MANDAMUS AND PROHIBITION

In the Matter of Enforcement of the Michael Morton Act and the Prohibition Against Imposition of Conditions of Discovery under Article 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

KEITH S. HAMPTON JACQUELINE WOOD Attorney at Law Attorney at Law State Bar No. 08873230 State Bar No. 00794879 1103 Nueces Street 1502 West Avenue, Suite A Austin, Texas 78701 Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 476-8484 (o) (512) 201-5270 (o) (512) 477-3580 (f) (512) 900-2857 (f) (512) 762-6170 (c) jackie@jackiewood.com keithshampton@gmail.com

ATTORNEYS FOR RELATOR NAMES OF ALL PARTIES Pursuant to the provisions of Rule 52.2, Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure,

a complete list of the names of all parties to this original appellate action seeking

extraordinary relief and counsel are as follows:

Parties: Jevon Miles, Relator and Real Party in Interest

Rosemary Lehmberg, Travis County District Attorney, Respondent

Counsel: Keith S. Hampton 1103 Nueces Street Austin, Texas 78701

Jacqueline Wood Attorney at Law 1502 West Avenue, Suite A Austin, Texas 78701

Rosemary Lehmberg Scott Taliaferro Travis County District Attorney’s Office P.O. Box 1748 Austin, Texas 78767 TABLE OF CONTENTS Names of All Parties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

List of Authorities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

Statement of the Case. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Restraint.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Statement of Jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Issue Presented: Respondent should be compelled to provide discovery “as soon as practicable,” as required by the Texas discovery statute, and should be prohibited from withholding discovery until indictment... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Statement of Facts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Argument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Certification of Factual Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Certificate of Service and Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Article 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

Rule 8.04 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct

Opinion 646 of the Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar

Reporter’s Record

Email Exchange LIST OF AUTHORITIES CASES PAGE

De Leon v. Aguilar, 127 S.W.3d 1 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Dodson v. State, 988 S.W.2d 833 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 1999, no pet.). . . . . . 2

Ex parte Chi, 256 S.W.3d 702 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Ex parte Robinson, 641 S.W.2d 552 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

In re Bonilla, 424 S.W.3d 528 (Tex.Crim.App. 2014). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

In re State ex rel. Weeks, 391 S.W.3d 117 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013).. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, STATUTES AND RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE

Tex. Const. art. V, Sec. 12(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Tex. Code Crim. Pro. art.4.04. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 39.14.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . passim

Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art.44.02. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Tex. Gov’t Code §22.221(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 4

Tex. R. App. Proc. 25.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Tex. R. App. Proc. 52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Tex. R. App. Proc. 72. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Tex. Comm. on Prof’l Ethics, Op. 646 (2014). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof’l Conduct 8.04. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

Comes now Jevon Miles, Relator, and pursuant to Rules 52 and 72 of the Texas

Rules of Appellate Procedure, files this Petition for Writs of Mandamus and

Prohibition to compel Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg,

Respondent, to comply with Article 39.14’s requirement that discovery be provided

“as soon as practicable” after request from defense counsel and to prohibit the denial

of discovery until Respondent’s own arbitrarily-chosen date.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Relator’s undersigned attorney, Jackie Wood, requested discovery pursuant to

Article 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on June 1, 2015. On June 4, 2015,

Respondent’s office refused discovery. In an email, Respondent’s paralegal

explained that counsel’s “requests were rejected” and that “a division director’s

approval is required” for discovery sought pre-indictment. (Email exchange). Relator

seeks relief from this Court to enforce the ministerial duty of Respondent to provide

discovery “as soon as practicable,” as so plainly required by statute. Relator also

seeks relief from this Court to permanently terminate the policy of denial of discovery

until the prosecution decides to seek an indictment.

1 RESTRAINT

Applicant is being restrained in his liberty by the requirement of appearance

to court as a condition of bond. Applicant is therefore under restraint. Ex parte

Robinson, 641 S.W.2d 552 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982).

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION

This Court has jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus in this cause under

Article 5 §5(c) of the Texas Constitution, Article 4.04 of the Code of Criminal

Procedure, and Rule 52 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. Only this Court

can grant relief because the appellate courts have no original jurisdiction to issues

writs of mandamus against district attorneys. Dodson v. State, 988 S.W.2d 833, 835

(Tex. App. – San Antonio 1999, no pet.); Tex. Gov’t Code §22.221(b).

ISSUE PRESENTED

Respondent should be compelled to provide discovery “as soon as practicable,”

as required by the Texas discovery statute, and should be prohibited from withholding

discovery until indictment.

2 STATEMENT OF FACTS

Relator made a timely request for discovery, but was told by Respondent’s

paralegal:

Unfortunately due to our policy these requests were rejected due to the cases being violent and are not indicted. A division director’s approval is required to release discovery in any violent case prior to indictment. If you would like to resubmit an offense report request (once indicted) you may stop by the first floor or get the form online. You may stop by the first floor to turn in the forms or fax them to our office[.]

(Email exchange)(attached).

ARGUMENT

Article 39.14(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure states in pertinent part: “as

soon as practicable after receiving a timely request from the defendant the state shall

produce and permit the inspection and the electronic duplication, copying, and

photographing, by or on behalf of the defendant, of [items of evidence].” Tex. Code

Crim. Proc. art. 39.14(a).1 Because Relator made such a request, the State has a non-

discretionary duty to provide counsel discovery “as soon as practicable.”

1 Article 39.14 was substantially rewritten with the passage of Senate Bill 1611, the Michael Morton Act. See Hampton, Keith S., Texas Discovery: Where We Were, Where We Are Headed, Voice for the Defense (Nov. 20, 2014).

3 Respondent appears to make a distinction regarding cases it deems “violent.”

There is no such distinction or exception anywhere in Article 39.14. The only

exceptions are video-recordings described in 264.408 of the Family Code (child

advocacy center interviews) and “property and material” specified in 39.14 of the

Code of Criminal Procedure (child pornography). It is important to note that there

is no issue that the information (the offense reports and other evidence) will be made

available to Relator’s counsel. The only question is when that discovery will be

provided. Respondent assumes her office makes that determination. In fact, the

statute makes that determination – “as soon as practicable.” This phrase provides the

State with fair flexibility, but no authority to “reject[]” discovery requests.

The date of indictment is controlled by Respondent. By making discovery

conditional upon Respondent’s decision to seek an indictment, Respondent has

effectively placed prosecutors in control of the disclosure of discovery items.

Respondent’s policy conflicts with the plain language of the statute wherein

lawmakers imposed a duty of disclosure “as soon as practicable” and not “upon the

successful acquisition of indictment.”

Relator is entitled to mandamus relief if he is seeking to compel a ministerial

act and has no adequate remedy at law to do so. In re Bonilla, 424 S.W.3d 528, 533

(Tex.Crim.App. 2014). “[T]he ministerial-act requirement, is satisfied if the relator

4 can show a clear right to the relief sought. A clear right to relief is shown when the

facts and circumstances dictate but one rational decision under unequivocal, well-

settled (i.e., from extant statutory, constitutional, or case law sources), and clearly

controlling legal principles.” In re State ex rel. Weeks, 391 S.W.3d 117, 122

(Tex.Crim.App. 2013)(citations omitted). Appeal ordinarily provides an adequate

remedy at law. De Leon v. Aguilar, 127 S.W.3d 1, 6-7 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004).

Article 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure mandates that “the state shall

produce” discovery “as soon as practicable” after a request for discovery by defense

counsel. This statute plainly does not condition discovery only “after indictment.”

Relator therefore has a clear right to discovery under the circumstances of this case.

Relator has no remedy at all except for a mandamus action in this Court. The

district court has no jurisdiction to order discovery because Relator has not been

indicted. Tex. Const. art. V, Sec. 12(b) (indictment invests court with jurisdiction).

He cannot appeal. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 44.02; Tex. R. App. Proc. 25.2. Nor can

he seek redress in the Court of Appeals. Tex. Gov’t Code §22.221(b). Thus, Relator

has no other remedy than mandamus relief from this Court.

Relator not only seeks this Court to compel Respondent to provide discovery,

but to also end the policy of withholding discovery until some date and time after

indictment. Relator is entitled to a writ of prohibition if he has a clear right to relief

5 and no adequate remedy at law. Ex parte Chi, 256 S.W.3d 702, 703-704

(Tex.Crim.App. 2008). Like the mandamus sought, Relator has no other remedy than

a writ from this Court prohibiting Respondent from conditioning discovery upon

some date and time of its own choosing.

Relator has a clear right to relief because Respondent’s policy plainly violates

Rule 8.04(a)(12) of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, as the

Professional Ethics Committee of the State Bar of Texas has plainly held. The

Committee reasoned:

Because article 39.14 requires an “open file” policy by prosecutors without pre-conditions, prosecutors would violate Rule 8.04(a)(12) if they refused to produce and permit the inspection of their file in accordance with the provisions of article 39.14 unless defense lawyers first agreed to waive certain rights of their clients. Under article 39.14 – and, therefore, under Rule 8.04(a)(12) – prosecutors are required to produce and permit the inspection of their files, subject only to the limitations set forth in article 39.14. Thus, prosecutors would violate Rule 8.04(a)(12) if they attempted to impose conditions not found in article 39.14 before making the required disclosures.

Tex. Comm. on Prof’l Ethics, Op. 646 (2014). See also Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof’l

Conduct 8.04(a)(12), reprinted in Tex. Gov’t Code, tit. 2, subtit. G, app. A (West

2014). The denial of discovery until indictment is a unilaterally imposed condition

that violates this decision as well as the plain language of the statute. Relator thus

has a clear right to relief.

6 PRAYER

WHEREFORE, Relator prays the Court grant this petition and issue a writ of

mandamus ordering Respondent to terminate the policy of her office of withholding

discovery until indictment, comply with the clear, direct ministerial duty under

Article 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and provide counsel with the

requested discovery “as soon as practicable.”

Respectfully submitted,

KEITH HAMPTON Attorney at Law 1103 Nueces Street Austin, Texas 78701 512-476-8484 (o) 512-762-6170 (c) 512-477-3580 (f) keithshampton@gmail.com State Bar No. 08873230

JACQUELINE WOOD Attorney at Law State Bar No. 00794879 1502 West Avenue, Suite A Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 201-5270 (o) (512) 900-2857 (f) jackie@jackiewood.com

ATTORNEYS FOR RELATOR

7 CERTIFICATION OF FACTUAL STATEMENTS

I, Keith S. Hampton, hereby certify that every factual statement contained within this petition is supported by competent evidence included in the record or appendix.

Keith S. Hampton

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing has been delivered to the following parties and interested persons: electronically to Scott.Taliaferro@traviscountytx.gov, and personally to Jevon Miles on this day, June 5, 2015.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

I hereby certify that this petition contains 848 words and complies with Rule 9.4 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.

8 APPENDIX

Article 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof’l Conduct R. 8.04, reprinted in Tex. Gov’t Code, tit. 2, subtit. G, app. A (West 2014). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6

Opinion 636, Professional Ethics Committee of the State Bar of Texas (2014). 7-8

Email Exchange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10 Article 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

Art. 39.14. DISCOVERY. (a) Subject to the restrictions provided by Section 264.408, Family Code, and Article 39.15 of this code, as soon as practicable after receiving a timely request from the defendant the state shall produce and permit the inspection and the electronic duplication, copying, and photographing, by or on behalf of the defendant, of any offense reports, any designated documents, papers, written or recorded statements of the defendant or a witness, including witness statements of law enforcement officers but not including the work product of counsel for the state in the case and their investigators and their notes or report, or any designated books, accounts, letters, photographs, or objects or other tangible things not otherwise privileged that constitute or contain evidence material to any matter involved in the action and that are in the possession, custody, or control of the state or any person under contract with the state. The state may provide to the defendant electronic duplicates of any documents or other information described by this article. The rights granted to the defendant under this article do not extend to written communications between the state and an agent, representative, or employee of the state. This article does not authorize the removal of the documents, items, or information from the possession of the state, and any inspection shall be in the presence of a representative of the state.

(b) On motion of a party and on notice to the other parties, the court in which an action is pending may order one or more of the other parties to disclose to the party making the motion the name and address of each person the other party may use at trial to present evidence under Rules 702, 703, and 705, Texas Rules of Evidence. The court shall specify in the order the time and manner in which the other party must make the disclosure to the moving party, but in specifying the time in which the other party shall make disclosure the court shall require the other party to make the disclosure not later than the 20th day before the date the trial begins.

(c) If only a portion of the applicable document, item, or information is subject to discovery under this article, the state is not required to produce or permit the inspection of the remaining portion that is not subject to discovery and may withhold or redact that portion. The state shall inform the defendant that a portion of the document, item, or information has been withheld or redacted. On request of the defendant, the court shall conduct a hearing to determine whether withholding or redaction is justified under this article or other law.

1 (d) In the case of a pro se defendant, if the court orders the state to produce and permit the inspection of a document, item, or information under this subsection, the state shall permit the pro se defendant to inspect and review the document, item, or information but is not required to allow electronic duplication as described by Subsection (a).

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f), the defendant, the attorney representing the defendant, or an investigator, expert, consulting legal counsel, or other agent of the attorney representing the defendant may not disclose to a third party any documents, evidence, materials, or witness statements received from the state under this article unless: (1) a court orders the disclosure upon a showing of good cause after notice and hearing after considering the security and privacy interests of any victim or witness; or (2) the documents, evidence, materials, or witness statements have already been publicly disclosed.

(f) The attorney representing the defendant, or an investigator, expert, consulting legal counsel, or agent for the attorney representing the defendant, may allow a defendant, witness, or prospective witness to view the information provided under this article, but may not allow that person to have copies of the information provided, other than a copy of the witness's own statement. Before allowing that person to view a document or the witness statement of another under this subsection, the person possessing the information shall redact the address, telephone number, driver's license number, social security number, date of birth, and any bank account or other identifying numbers contained in the document or witness statement. For purposes of this section, the defendant may not be the agent for the attorney representing the defendant.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to limit an attorney's ability to communicate regarding his or her case within the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, except for the communication of information identifying any victim or witness, including name, except as provided in Subsections (e) and (f), address, telephone number, driver's license number, social security number, date of birth, and bank account information or any information that by reference would make it possible to identify a victim or a witness. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the disclosure of identifying information to an administrative, law enforcement,

2 regulatory, or licensing agency for the purposes of making a good faith complaint.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the state shall disclose to the defendant any exculpatory, impeachment, or mitigating document, item, or information in the possession, custody, or control of the state that tends to negate the guilt of the defendant or would tend to reduce the punishment for the offense charged.

(i) The state shall electronically record or otherwise document any document, item, or other information provided to the defendant under this article.

(j) Before accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or before trial, each party shall acknowledge in writing or on the record in open court the disclosure, receipt, and list of all documents, items, and information provided to the defendant under this article.

(k) If at any time before, during, or after trial the state discovers any additional document, item, or information required to be disclosed under Subsection (h), the state shall promptly disclose the existence of the document, item, or information to the defendant or the court.

(l) A court may order the defendant to pay costs related to discovery under this article, provided that costs may not exceed the charges prescribed by Subchapter F, Chapter 552, Government Code.

(m) To the extent of any conflict, this article prevails over Chapter 552, Government Code.

(n) This article does not prohibit the parties from agreeing to discovery and documentation requirements equal to or greater than those required under this article.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 49 (S.B. 1611), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2014.

3 Rule 8.04 Misconduct

(a) A lawyer shall not:

(1) violate these rules, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another, whether or not such violation occurred in the course of a client-lawyer relationship; (2) commit a serious crime or commit any other criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyers honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; (3) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; (4) engage in conduct constituting obstruction of justice; (5) state or imply an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official; (6) knowingly assist a judge or judicial officer in conduct that is a violation of applicable rules of judicial conduct or other law; (7) violate any disciplinary or disability order or judgment; (8) fail to timely furnish to the Chief Disciplinary Counsels office or a district grievance committee a response or other information as required by the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, unless he or she in good faith timely asserts a privilege or other legal ground for failure to do so; (9) engage in conduct that constitutes barratry as defined by the law of this state; (10) fail to comply with section 13.01 of the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure relating to notification of an attorneys cessation of practice; (11) engage in the practice of law when the lawyer is on inactive status or when the lawyers right to practice has been suspended or terminated, including but not limited to situations where a lawyers right to practice has been administratively suspended for failure to timely pay required fees or assessments or for failure to comply with Article XII of the State Bar Rules relating to Mandatory Continuing Legal Education; or (12) violate any other laws of this state relating to the professional conduct of lawyers and to the practice of law.

(b) As used in subsection (a)(2) of this Rule, serious crime means barratry; any felony involving moral turpitude; any misdemeanor involving theft, embezzlement, or fraudulent or reckless misappropriation of money or other property; or any attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation of another to commit any of the foregoing crimes.

4 Comment:

1. There are four principal sources of professional obligations for lawyers in Texas: these Rules, the State Bar Act, the State Bar Rules, and the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure (TRDP). Rule 1.06(O) of the TRDP contains a partial listing of the grounds for discipline under those Rules.

2. Rule 8.04 provides a comprehensive restatement of all forms of conduct that will subject a lawyer to discipline under either these Rules, the State Bar Act, the TRDP, or the State Bar Rules. In that regard, Rule 8.04(a)(1) is intended to correspond to TRDP Rule 1.06(O)(1); Rules 8.04(a)(2) and 8.04(b) are intended to correspond to the provisions of TRDP Rules 1.06(O)(8) and (9) and Rules 1.06(O) and (U), as well as certain other crimes; and Rules 8.04(a)(7)-(11) are intended to correspond to TRDP 1.06(O)(3)-(7), respectively. Rule 8.04(a)(12) of these Rules corresponds to a prohibition that was contained in the last (unnumbered) paragraph of former Article X, section 7, State Bar Rules.

3. The only provisions of TRDP Rule 1.06(O) not specifically referred to in Rule 8.04 is Rule 1.06(O)(2)s provision for imposing discipline on an attorney in Texas for conduct resulting in that lawyers discipline in another jurisdiction, which is provided for by Rule 8.05 of these Rules.

4. Many kinds of illegal conduct reflect adversely on fitness to practice law. However, some kinds of offenses carry no such implication. Traditionally in this state, the distinction has been drawn in terms of serious crimes and other offenses. See former Article X, sections 7(8) and 26 of the State Bar Rules (now repealed). The more recently adopted TRDP distinguishes between intentional crimes, serious crimes, and other offenses. See TRDP Rules 1.06(O) and (U), respectively. These Rules make only those criminal offenses either amounting to serious crimes or having the salient characteristics of such crimes the subject of discipline. See Rules 8.04(a)(2), 8.04(b).

5. Although a lawyer is personally answerable to the entire criminal law, a lawyer should be professionally answerable only for offenses that indicate lack of those characteristics relevant to his fitness for the practice of law, as fitness is defined in these Rules. A pattern of repeated offenses, even ones of minor significance when

5 considered separately, can indicate indifference to legal obligations that legitimately could call a lawyer's overall fitness to practice into question.

6. A lawyer may refuse to comply with an obligation imposed by law upon a good faith belief, openly asserted, that no valid obligation exists. The provisions of Rule 1.02(d) concerning a good faith challenge to the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law apply to challenges to legal regulation of the practice of law.

7. Lawyers holding public office assume legal responsibilities going beyond those of other citizens. A lawyers abuse of public office can suggest an inability to fulfill the professional role of attorney. The same is true of abuse of positions of private trust. See Rules 8.04(a)(2), 8.04(a)(3), 8.04(b).

Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof’l Conduct R. 8.04, reprinted in Tex. Gov’t Code, tit. 2, subtit. G, app. A (West 2014)

6 From: Glo Moncivais Subject: DISCOVERY-Offense Report REJECTION: Jevon MILES / 15-202063 / CC4 & 15-500139 / 390th Date: June 4, 2015 at 5:30:53 PM CDT To: "Jacqueline Wood (jackie@jackiewoodlaw.com)"

Ms. Wood,

You turned in offense report requests on June 1, 2015 regarding the above named person and cause numbers. Unfortunately due to our policy these requests were rejected due to the cases being violent and are not indicted. A division director’s approval is required to release discovery in any violent case prior to indictment. If you would like to resubmit an offense report request (once indicted) you may stop by the first floor or get the form online. You may stop by the first floor to turn in the forms or fax them to our office at 512-854-4206.

Thank You, Glo Moncivais, Paralegal Family Justice Division Office of the Travis County District Attorney P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767 (O) (512) 854-3274; (F) (512) 854-4248

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