Weir, Colton

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: December 10, 2014
• Docket: WR-82,410-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-82,410-01

EX PARTE COLTON WEIR, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. F136672006 IN THE 420TH DISTRICT COURT FROM NACOGDOCHES COUNTY

Per curiam.

OPINION

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 imprisonment for life without parole. The Twelfth Court of Appeals affirmed his

conviction. Weir v. State, No. 12-06-00408-CR (Tex. App.—Tyler Jun. 11, 2008) (not designated

for publication).

Applicant contends that his mandatory sentence of life without parole for a crime he

committed when he was a juvenile violates the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution 2

under Miller v. Alabama.1 He also alleges that Miller should be construed to apply retroactively and

he should be subject to a punishment range of 5–40 years’ imprisonment. While this application was

pending in Nacogdoches County, this Court decided that Miller applies retroactively to a claim raised

in a post-conviction proceeding and determined the appropriate available punishment at sentencing.

Ex parte Maxwell, 424 S.W.3d 66 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

The trial court has determined that Applicant’s sentence violates Miller. Relief is granted.

The sentence in Cause No. F136672006 in the 420th District Court of Nacogdoches County is

vacated, and Applicant is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Nacogdoches County for further

sentencing proceedings to permit the factfinder to assess Applicant’s sentence at (1) life with the

possibility of parole or (2) life without parole after consideration of Applicant’s individual conduct,

circumstances, and character. The trial court shall issue any necessary bench warrant within 10 days

after the mandate of this Court issues.

Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional

Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.

Delivered: December 10, 2014 Do not publish

1 132 S. Ct. 2455 (2012).