PD-0448-15 PD-0448-15 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 4/27/2015 4:06:43 PM Accepted 4/27/2015 4:51:21 PM ABEL ACOSTA IN THE CLERK TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
Ex Parte Amir Tavakkoli Appellant, Pro Se
vs.
The State of Texas, Appellee.
PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
Amir Tavakkoli 17101 Kuykendahl Rd Houston, TX 77068 Tel: (281) 537-2171 Fax: (832) 787-0313 State Bar No. 24093240 info@atlawoffice.com
April 27, 2015 William J. Delmore III Assistant District Attorney Montgomery County 207 W Phillips St. 2nd Floor Conroe, TX 77301 Tel. (936) 539-7979 Fax (936) 760-6940 Attorney for Appellee, The State of Texas
APPELLANT REQUESTS ORAL ARGUMENT Identity of Parties
Amir Tavakkoli 17101 Kuykendahl Rd Houston, TX 77068 Tel: (281) 537-2171 Fax: (832) 787-0313 State Bar No. 24093240 info@atlawoffice.com
William J. Delmore III Assistant District Attorney Montgomery County 207 W Phillips St. 2nd Floor Conroe, TX 77301 Tel. (936) 539-7979 Fax (936) 760-6940 Attorney for Appellee, The State of Texas
Lisa McMinn State Prosecuting Attorney P.O. Box 13046 Austin, Texas 78711 Fax: (512) 463-5724
Trial Court Judge: Dennis Watson
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page(s)
Index of authorities 3
Statement regarding oral argument 3
Statement of the case 4
Statement of procedural history 5 Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 2 Grounds for review 6
Argument 7
a) Reviewing courts cannot grant deference to ‘implied factual findings’ not supported in the record. The Ninth Court of Appeals erred in implying that the habeas court found appellant’s testimony unreliable and failed to consider that the court admonishments regarding consequences to pleading guilty were also misadvice.
b) Reviewing courts cannot grant deference to ‘implied factual findings’ not supported in the record. The Ninth Court of Appeals erred in implying that the writ counsel was no ineffective.
Statement Requesting Nondisclosure of Records to Public 10
Prayer for relief 11
Certificate of Service 12
Certificate of Compliance 12
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Ex Parte Peterson, 117 S.W. 3d 804, 819 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) 6, 9-10
Ex parte Wheeler, 203 S.W. 3d 317, 324 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) 6, 9-10
Martinez v. Ryan, 132 S.Ct. 1309 (2012) 5-7, 9
Trevino v. Thaler, 133 S.Ct. 1911 (2013) 5-7, 9
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
Appellant requests oral argument. Because of the complexities of this case
the Court of Criminal Appeals will benefit from oral argument.
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 3 STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On January 4, 2013, appellant filed an Application for writ of habeas corpus
in County Court at Law #1 in Montgomery County, Cause No. CR 13-26,808
claiming ineffective assistance of counsel under Padilla v. Kentucky from his 2006
class B misdemeanor conviction for possession of marijuana; the court denied his
writ On January 22, 20131. The findings of fact and conclusions of law of the lower
court show that appellant was denied relief solely for the reason that under Chaidez
v. United States, 133 S.Ct. 1103 (2013) the ruling of Padilla v. Kentucky, 130 S. Ct.
1473 (2010) does not apply retroactively.
On appeal to this court, appellant raised the arguments that his trial counsel,
William Pattillo (“Pattillo”) was ineffective because of lack of proper investigation
and also because he made appellant take the worst possible plea bargaining
agreement, considering the circumstance and the fact that appellant was an
immigrant. The Ninth Court of Appeals did not consider those arguments when they
were raised on appeal because they were not raised at the writ hearing.
Consequently, appellant filed another writ of habeas corpus in July of 2014 claiming
that his writ counsel was ineffective for not raising the proper arguments, and that
there was new testimony available to allow for a second writ of habeas corpus under
Article 11.59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 4 Appellant relied on his writ counsel to raise all proper arguments available at
his previous writ of habeas corpus. Appellant’s writ counsel’s failure to raise the
proper arguments is ineffective assistance of counsel in itself which requires a new
writ hearing to determine the basis of appellant’s claim based on the merits of the
case and not a procedural issue. In Martinez v. Ryan, 132 S.Ct. 1309 (2012) and
Trevino v. Thaler, 133 S.Ct. 1911 (2013) the Supreme Court of the United States
made clear that the right to effective assistance of counsel applies to the first writ of
habeas corpus and counsel’s failure to be effective at a writ of habeas corpus gives
cause for remand of the case to determine whether writ counsel was ineffective and
a new hearing is necessary. The trail court never considered or addressed whether
Martinez v. Ryan and Trevino v. Thaler were applicable and whether Appellant’s
writ counsel was ineffective for not raising all proper arguments in his first writ. On
appeal, the Ninth Court of Appeals also failed to address whether Martinez and
Trevino applied; instead waiting on this Honorable Court of Appeals to make that
decision. A motion for en banc reconsideration was filed with the Ninth Court of
Criminal Appeals to make a ruling on the issue of whether Martinez and Trevino
apply; the motion was denied.
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On 08/28/2014 Notice of Appeal filed in habeas court.
On 11/03/2014 Case began in Ninth Court of Appeals.
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 5 On 03/04/2015 Opinion was issued.
On 03/17/2015 Motion for En Banc Reconsideration was filed.
On 03/17/2015 Motion for En Banc reconsideration was denied.
GROUNDS FOR REVIEW
1.- Whether Ryan and Martinez apply to this case so the record is clear for
appellate review. Martinez v. Ryan, 132 S.Ct. 1309, 1320 (2012) (“[A] procedural
default will not bar a federal habeas court from hearing a substantial claim of
ineffective assistance at trial if, in the [state’s] initial-review collateral proceeding,
there was no counsel or counsel in that proceeding was 8 ineffective.”); see also
Trevino v. Thaler, 133 S.Ct. 1911, 1920-21 (2013) (applying the rule of Martinez to
federal review of Texas state court convictions).
2.- The Ninth Court of Appeals incorrectly implied facts not found in the record.
The Appellate Court is not free to defer to the trial Court’s implied factual findings
“if they are unable to determine from the record what the trial court’s implied factual
findings are.” Ex Parte Peterson, 117 S.W. 3d 804, 819 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003)
(per curiam), overruled on other grounds by Ex Parte Lewis, 219 S.W. 3d 335 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2007); Ex parte Wheeler, 203 S.W. 3d 317, 324 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
The findings of facts and conclusions of law of the habeas court state the only
reasons for denying appellant’s relief as laches and no evidence of new testimony.
The habeas court did not even consider whether Appellant’s first writ counsel was
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 6 ineffective and whether Martinez and Trevino applied. The Ninth Court of Appeals
incorrectly held (implied) that Appellant did not prove that his habeas counsel was
ineffective even after habeas counsel failed to raise crucial arguments in the habeas
hearing.
ARGUMENT
c) Reviewing courts cannot grant deference to ‘implied factual findings’ not supported in the record. The Ninth Court of Appeals erred in implying that the habeas court found appellant’s testimony unreliable and failed to consider that the court admonishments regarding consequences to pleading guilty were also misadvice.
In Trevino v. Thaler, the Supreme Court held that ineffective assistance of
counsel at initial-review collateral proceedings may establish cause for a defendant’s
procedural default of a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel and remand was
required to determine whether petitioner’s attorney in his first state collateral
proceeding was effective. 133 S.Ct. 1911, 1921 (2013).
The petitioner in Trevino was “convicted of capital murder in Texas state court
and sentenced to death after the jury found insufficient mitigating circumstances to
warrant a life sentence.” Id. Neither his appeal counsel nor his first writ counsel
raised the argument that petitioner’s trial counsel was ineffective for lack of proper
investigation by not raising mitigating factors to reduce the sentence of death. Id.
The court reasoned that the nature of reasoned that Texas procedural framework, by
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 7 its design and operation makes it highly unlikely in a typical case that a defendant
will have a meaningful opportunity to raise an ineffective assistance of trial counsel
claim on direct appeal. Id. at 1918. The nature of an ineffective-assistance claim
means that the trial record is likely to be insufficient to support the claim. Id. And a
motion for a new trial to develop the record is usually inadequate because of Texas
rules regarding time limits on the filing, and the disposal, of such motions and the
availability of trial transcripts. Id. Thus, a writ of habeas corpus is normally needed
to gather the facts necessary for evaluating these claims in Texas. Id. As a result, the
Court held that ineffective assistance of counsel at initial-review collateral
proceedings may establish cause for a defendant’s procedural default of a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and remand was required to determine
whether the petitioner’s attorney in his first state collateral proceeding was
ineffective, whether underlying ineffective assistance of trial counsel was
substantial, and whether petitioner was prejudiced. Id. at 1921.
Similarly, in appellant’s case, his first writ counsel failed to raise the argument
of ineffective assistance of counsel because of lack of proper investigation by
appellant’s trial counsel to determine whether appellant had any defenses and
whether the amount of the marijuana was less than 30 grams to allow appellant relief
from deportation. Appellant’s writ counsel also failed to raise the argument that
appellant’s trial counsel took the worst possible plea bargain agreement considering
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 8 the circumstance of appellant’s case and considering that pleading guilty to a drug
offense would be virtually a death sentence for appellant. Supra note 5. Martinez v.
Ryan, 132 S. Ct. 1309, decided by the Supreme Court in 2012 has the same holding
as Trevino and further supports appellant’s argument and proves the lower court’s
failure.
The lower court erred in completely failing to consider Martinez and Trevino
even though appellant attempted to bring this to the attention of the lower court
repeatedly. RR, 17-18, 47.
d) Reviewing courts cannot grant deference to ‘implied factual findings’ not supported in the record. The Ninth Court of Appeals erred in implying that the writ counsel was no ineffective.
The Ninth Court of Appeals incorrectly implied facts not found in the record.
The Appellate Court is not free to defer to the trial Court’s implied factual findings
“if they are unable to determine from the record what the trial court’s implied factual
findings are.” Ex Parte Peterson, 117 S.W. 3d 804, 819 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003)
(per curiam), overruled on other grounds by Ex Parte Lewis, 219 S.W. 3d 335 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2007); Ex parte Wheeler, 203 S.W. 3d 317, 324 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
The findings of facts and conclusions of law of the habeas court do not indicate
whether Appellant’s habeas counsel was ineffective. The Ninth Court of Appeals
incorrectly held that Appellant did not prove that his habeas counsel was ineffective
even after habeas counsel failed to raise crucial arguments in the habeas hearing.
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 9 Neither Ex Parte Peterson nor Ex parte Wheeler support giving deference to
the trial Court’s ‘implied findings of fact’. The better approach is to remand the case
to the Trial Court so the court may make appropriate findings of fact and conclusions
of law and whether writ counsel was ineffective.
STATEMENT REQUESTING NONDISCLOSURE OF RECORDS TO PUBLIC
The appellant is a newly license practicing Texas attorney in good standing
who has his own practice. Appellant’s livelihood and his ability to make a living is
dependent on his reputation and good character. Appellant understands and takes
responsibility for his mistakes in the past. However, appellant respectfully requests
that this court does not make any motions, pleas, petitions, opinion, or any other
document relevant to this case available to the public. Alternatively, appellant
requests that this court remove any identifying information of appellant including
his name and any identifying information which would give a person knowledge that
the case pertain to appellant even without the name being identified. Such
information includes most facts given in the statement of facts section including the
details of the arrest, etc.
.
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 10 PRAYER
Appellant, Amir Tavakkoli, prays that this Court grant his Petition for
Discretionary Review.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________ Amir Tavakkoli 17101 Kuykendahl Rd Houston, TX 77068 Tel: (281) 537-2171 Fax: (832) 787-0313 State Bar No. 24093240 info@atlawoffice.com
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 11 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
This document complies with the typeface requirements of Tex. R. App. P. 9.4(e) because it has been prepared in a conventional typeface no smaller than 14- point for text and 12-point for footnotes. This document also complies with the word-count limitations of Tex. R. App. P. 9.4(i), if applicable, because it contains 2137 words, excluding any parts exempted by Tex. R. App. P. 9.4(i)(1).
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that on April 22, 2015 a true and correct copy of Appellant’s Petition for Discretionary Review was served to each person listed below by the method indicated.
/s/Amir Tavakkoli Amir Tavakkoli
Via Fax to: William J. Delmore III Assistant District Attorney Montgomery County 207 W Phillips St. 2nd Floor Conroe, TX 77301 Tel. (936) 539-7979 Fax (936) 760-6940 Attorney for Appellee, The State of Texas
Lisa McMinn State Prosecuting Attorney P.O. Box 13046 Austin, Texas 78711 Fax: (512) 463-5724
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 12 IN THE TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
Ex Parte Amir Tavakkoli Appellant,
APENDIX-
Index:
1-11 Opinion of The Ninth Court of Appeals in Case No. 09-14-00358-CR
12 Order on Motion for Reconsideration
Tavakkoli, Amir – Petition For Discretionary Review Page 13 In The
Court of Appeals Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont ________________
NO. 09-14-00358-CR ________________
EX PARTE AMIR TAVAKKOLI, Appellant __________________________________________________________________
On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 1 Montgomery County, Texas Trial Cause No. 14-28246 __________________________________________________________________
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This is an appeal from the trial court’s order denying appellant Amir
Tavakkoli’s second application for writ of habeas corpus. See Tex. Code Crim.
Proc. Ann. art. 11.09 (West 2005). In three appellate issues, Tavakkoli contends
the trial court (1) failed to properly consider two cases that apply the right to
effective assistance of counsel to a writ of habeas corpus; (2) erred in not granting
appellant’s second writ due to new testimony; and (3) erred by using the doctrine
of laches to dismiss his writ. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
1 BACKGROUND
As we explained in our opinion on Tavakkoli’s appeal of the denial of his
first application for writ of habeas corpus, Tavakkoli was born in Iran in 1988,
moved to the United States in 2002, and became a legal permanent resident. Ex
parte Tavakkoli, No. 09-13-00082-CR, 2013 WL 5428138, at *1 (Tex. App.—
Beaumont Sept. 25, 2013, pet. ref’d) (mem. op.). On December 8, 2006, when
Tavakkoli was an eighteen-year-old college student, he was arrested for reckless
driving, and drug paraphernalia and marijuana were found in the vehicle during an
inventory. Id. On December 15, 2006, Tavakkoli met with his appointed counsel,
pleaded guilty “to possession of marijuana in exchange for a twenty-day jail
sentence and dismissal of the reckless driving charge[,]” and was released after
serving his twenty-day sentence. Id. Tavakkoli went to Sweden in July 2012, and
he was denied reentry upon his return to the United States because he had pleaded
guilty to possession of marijuana. Id. In his first application for writ of habeas
corpus, Tavakkoli alleged that trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by
failing to advise Tavakkoli of the immigration consequences of pleading guilty to
the 2006 drug possession charge. Id. The trial court denied Tavakkoli’s
application, and Tavakkoli appealed to this Court. Id. This Court affirmed the trial
court’s judgment. Id. at *7.
2 Tavakkoli filed a second petition for writ of habeas corpus, in which he
contended that his writ counsel’s delay in filing his application for writ of habeas
corpus caused retroactivity under Padilla v. Kentucky to become an issue, and his
first petition “focused on Padilla and did not use any authority that discussed the
lack of counsel acting adversarial and taking a good plea agreement under the Fifth
Amendment.” See Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010). Tavakkoli also
argued that his trial counsel failed to be adversarial by failing to inquire about what
evidence the State had to hold the State to its burden of proof. In addition,
Tavakkoli contended that his Fifth Amendment rights were violated because his
counsel “took the worst possible outcome” by advising Tavakkoli to plead guilty to
possession of marijuana in return for dismissal of the reckless driving charge.
The trial court held a hearing on Tavakkoli’s application. At the hearing,
Tavakkoli, appearing pro se, argued that trial counsel spoke to him for no more
than ten minutes at the jail, and Tavakkoli agreed to plead guilty to possession of
marijuana in exchange for a dismissal of the reckless driving charge. In addition,
Tavakkoli argued that the Supreme Court had not issued its decision in Chaidez v.
United States, in which the Court determined that Padilla is not applied
retroactively, until after he had already filed his first writ, and that he did not have
the opportunity to amend his writ to raise “new arguments” because the trial court
3 made its decision two days after Chaidez was decided. See Chaidez v. United
States, ___ U.S. ___, 133 S.Ct. 1103, 1113, 185 L.Ed.2d 149 (2013). Tavakkoli
also contended that new testimony from trial counsel from the hearing on the first
writ had become available. According to Tavakkoli, trial counsel stated that he did
not check the weight of the marijuana, and Tavakkoli argued that he would have
been eligible for a waiver if the record had shown that the amount of marijuana
was less than thirty grams. Tavakkoli contended that because he left the United
States and tried to re-enter, he has the burden to prove the weight was less than
thirty grams, but he has “no records to show that.” Tavakkoli argued that he did not
have the right to a writ of habeas corpus until 2012 when he was placed under
deportation proceedings. Furthermore, Tavakkoli asserted that his counsel at the
writ hearing was ineffective because counsel did not raise all possible arguments
and defenses.
The State argued that Tavakkoli was not entitled to a hearing because he did
not meet the requirements of article 11.59 of the Texas Code of Criminal
Procedure, which governs second applications for habeas corpus relief. See Tex.
Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.59 (West 2005). Specifically, the State argued that
article 11.59 requires that new evidence must have been discovered since the last
hearing, and the alleged new evidence was actually discovered at the first hearing.
4 The State also argued that the equitable doctrine of laches applies because the
marijuana has been destroyed, “[t]he officer likely has no independent recollection
of any of these events, trial counsel “testified at the last hearing that he has no
independent recollection of his representation of Mr. Tavakkoli” and cannot locate
his case file, and the State cannot locate its case file concerning Tavakkoli.
According to the State, “it would be almost impossible to retry [Tavakkoli] for
either the reckless driving or the possession of marijuana because we have one
statement in a police report written seven and a half years ago[,]” and the arresting
officer cannot recall the ancillary trial testimony connected with Tavakkoli’s
offense. The State also argued that “[t]here is no entitlement to counsel on [an]
11.09 writ” and Tavakkoli could not demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel.
Furthermore, the State asserted that laches runs from the time of conviction, and
that Tavakkoli has “always had collateral consequences of a marijuana
conviction.”
Tavakkoli testified that trial counsel did not discuss alternative plea options,
and “pleading guilty to possession of marijuana was the only option given to me
after I told him I wanted to get out of jail. And no defenses were raised. Deferred
adjudication and probation were never discussed.” According to Tavakkoli, trial
counsel did not investigate the circumstances and validity of the inventory search
5 of the vehicle, ownership of the vehicle, the substance found in the bag, or the
weight of the substance. Tavakkoli read into the record trial counsel’s testimony
regarding “his admission of lack of investigation” at the previous writ hearing.
Tavakkoli testified that he mentioned his college final examination to trial counsel.
The trial court signed findings of fact and conclusions of law and an order
denying Tavakkoli’s application. In its findings and conclusions, the trial court
determined that (1) Tavakkoli’s trial counsel has no independent recollection of the
events surrounding Tavakkoli’s plea and cannot locate the case file; (2) the facts
supporting Tavakkoli’s current claims were available when he filed his original
writ application; (3) Tavakkoli has not presented any new evidence that was not
available at the hearing on his previous application; (4) the State’s ability to retry
Tavakkoli if habeas relief were granted “would be prejudiced by dissipation of
evidence that has occurred in the seven years since the offense date[;]” (5) the
equitable doctrine of laches requires denial of habeas relief; (6) Tavakkoli’s current
application is barred as a subsequent application because his current claims for
relief were available during his first writ application; and (7) Tavakkoli failed to
prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he was denied effective assistance
of counsel. Tavakkoli then filed this appeal.
6 STANDARD OF REVIEW
An applicant for a writ of habeas corpus must prove his allegations by a
preponderance of the evidence. Ex parte Klem, 269 S.W.3d 711, 718 (Tex. App.—
Beaumont 2008, pet. ref’d). We review a trial court’s decision to grant or deny
relief on an application for writ of habeas corpus under an abuse of discretion
standard. Id. We review the facts in the light most favorable to the trial court’s
ruling, and we afford almost total deference to the trial court’s determination of
historical facts supported by the record, especially when the trial court’s fact
findings are based upon its evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Id. When
resolution of the appellate issues turns on application of legal standards, we review
the trial court’s determination de novo. Id.
ISSUE ONE
In his first issue, Tavakkoli argues that the trial court erred by not
considering Trevino v. Thaler and Martinez v. Ryan. Tavakkoli asserts that both
Trevino and Martinez hold that an applicant for writ of habeas corpus has the right
to effective assistance of counsel. See Martinez v. Ryan, 132 S.Ct. 1309, 1320
(2012) (“[A] procedural default will not bar a federal habeas court from hearing a
substantial claim of ineffective assistance at trial if, in the [state’s] initial-review
collateral proceeding, there was no counsel or counsel in that proceeding was
7 ineffective.”); see also Trevino v. Thaler, 133 S.Ct. 1911, 1920-21 (2013)
(applying the rule of Martinez to federal review of Texas state court convictions).
The Court of Criminal Appeals has not yet addressed the application of
Trevino and Martinez to the jurisprudence of Texas. See, e.g., Ex parte McCarthy,
No. WR-50360-04, 2013 WL 3283148, at *1 (Tex. Crim. App. June 24, 2013) (not
designated for publication) (Price, J., concurring) (noting that the Court has not
reviewed its construction of article 11.071 of the Texas Code of Criminal
Procedure in light of Martinez and Trevino). Neither the U.S. Constitution nor the
Texas Constitution recognizes a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on a writ
of habeas corpus. Ex parte Graves, 70 S.W.3d 103, 113 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).
However, assuming without deciding that Tavakkoli has the right to assistance of
counsel when applying for a post-conviction writ of habeas corpus, Tavakkoli did
not demonstrate that counsel on his first writ provided ineffective assistance.
Accordingly, we overrule issue one.
ISSUE TWO
In his second issue, Tavakkoli contends the trial court erred in denying his
second application for writ of habeas corpus because new testimony was available
at the second writ hearing that was not available when he filed his first writ. Article
11.59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides as follows:
8 A party may obtain the writ of habeas corpus a second time by stating in a motion therefor that since the hearing of his first motion important testimony has been obtained which it was not in his power to produce at the former hearing. He shall also set forth the testimony so newly discovered; and if it be that of a witness, the affidavit of the witness shall also accompany such motion.
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.59 (emphasis added). Tavakkoli’s arguments at
the hearing, as well as his appellate brief, indicate that the “new” evidence upon
which he relies consists of trial counsel’s testimony at the hearing on his first
application for writ of habeas corpus. Because the evidence upon which Tavakkoli
relies was adduced at the hearing on his first application for writ of habeas corpus
rather than since that hearing, Tavakkoli does not meet the requirements of article
11.59. See id. Therefore, the trial court did not err by denying Tavakkoli’s
application on that basis. We overrule issue two.
ISSUE THREE
In his third issue, Tavakkoli contends the trial court erred by using the
doctrine of laches as a basis for denying his application for writ of habeas corpus.
Tavakkoli argues that “[i]t was not until July 2012, when appellant was placed
under deportation proceedings[,] that appellant’s right to a writ of habeas corpus
became ripe.” In addition, Tavakkoli maintains that if he were granted habeas
corpus relief and granted a new trial, the State “would be in the same position as it
was in 2006[.]” 9 “Given the nature of habeas corpus relief, it is reasonable to permit a court to
consider whether an applicant has slept on his rights and, if he has, how that has
affected the State, and whether, in light of the delay, it is fair and just to grant him
relief.” Ex parte Perez, 398 S.W.3d 206, 218-219 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). The
doctrine of laches is applied on a sliding scale; therefore, “the longer the delay, the
less prejudice must be shown.” Id. at 219 (citing Smith v. Caterpillar, Inc., 338
F.3d 730, 733 (7th Cir. 2003)). The doctrine of laches will bar habeas relief “when
an applicant’s unreasonable delay has prejudiced the State, thereby rendering
consideration of his claim inequitable.” Id.
As discussed above, the trial court heard and observed the State’s arguments
at the hearing. At the hearing, counsel for the State represented that the marijuana
has been destroyed, the arresting officer likely has no independent recollection of
events, trial counsel has no independent recollection of his representation of
Tavakkoli, trial counsel cannot locate his case file, and the State cannot locate its
case file. Counsel for the State represented that it would be “almost impossible” to
retry Tavakkoli. Reviewing the facts in the light most favorable to the trial court’s
ruling and affording almost total deference to the trial court’s determination of
historical facts supported by the record, we cannot say that the trial court abused its
discretion by denying Tavakkoli’s application for writ of habeas corpus. See Ex
10 parte Klem, 269 S.W.3d at 718. Accordingly, we overrule issue three. Having
overruled each of Tavakkoli’s issues, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
AFFIRMED.
________________________________ STEVE McKEITHEN Chief Justice
Submitted on December 31, 2014 Opinion Delivered March 4, 2015 Do Not Publish
Before McKeithen, C.J., Kreger and Horton, JJ.
11 FILE COPY
CHIEF JUSTICE STEVE MCKEITHEN Court of Appeals CLERK CAROL ANNE HARLEY
JUSTICES CHARLES KREGER State of Texas OFFICE SUITE 330 HOLLIS HORTON LEANNE JOHNSON Ninth District 1001 PEARL ST. BEAUMONT, TEXAS 77701 409/835-8402 FAX 409/835-8497 WWW.TXCOURTS.GOV/9THCOA.ASPX
Monday, March 23, 2015
Amir Tavakkoli William J. Delmore III 16503 Creek South Road Asst. District Attorney Houston, TX 77068 207 W. Phillips, 2nd Floor * DELIVERED VIA E-MAIL * Conroe, TX 77301 * DELIVERED VIA E-MAIL *
RE: Case Number: 09-14-00358-CR Trial Court Case 14-28246 Number:
Style: Ex Parte Amir Tavakkoli
The Appellant's motion for rehearing en banc in the above styled and numbered cause was overruled this date.
Sincerely,
CAROL ANNE HARLEY CLERK OF THE COURT
cc: Mark Turnbull (DELIVERED VIA E-MAIL) Graciela Caka (DELIVERED VIA E-MAIL) Judge Dennis D. Watson (DELIVERED VIA E-MAIL)