’WPCÕ Un¢ˆzŃGœbaūįŪ«“Æ®K–7 b ėEŅŖcQūyy\ė)T1¹3I}˜Ó0„š4JŽš©0JśwŠßOān×}þ‹CPtŪ“©öņ]PG뾜B÷:5ITfīČ0»Ł½j ś¤2#rö#®_ĀĄŠ|«_bz<™Ö‚Į7¹fM‘™ŖäŹžå7“.ÕĄĢźĶWpkSÓ>Øhæw„_ĪĮL ¤A/Äźö¢Ünh”h±Œ·‰%ü¢«f–I§LJާFĘH»Ī8Ėn§āókĘįĮ(#qÕV’w—–>ņ_.hÖŃHĶė‘Ī“5mg ‘ŚČ“­ä°~Į½éÅ.Ž—D(ˆŌ»ė¢¬zß @bøLqi"čŖŚh‹±œ „s)āq^ŌÜbź ś¤Į/+„×€aāä ܋›Čŗbę'Łš¾”×re5ĢēC‚¬]ČŁ—gźŻŌŠ”ųłMJt{ōĄ*Ć@4véõM_ļ„<·īŒÓņ‘« ųņA}™śOĖĻ ]k¶ąÜįĀł›YAš]|ķģž’y#£jrƒr_ĶKėÕD¶„:Oė›jē(ĖĪ2M«Żø¢ŠįŻēć«n’!ĄRęķĄ6ś(L+OhŠ #ɶUF %Å 0xĖ^ CwO4Sgv mxNU$D‘˜Acrobat PDFWriter,,,,,,,,04ż$  ‹.Benguiat Bk BT BoldX(Pˆ£$””ŌUSUS.,ŌŌ€ X65XXXŌŌ€ ¼Ŗą »X X65Ō+Æf0é ņpb0W0°yBackup3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ1rćZ‹,Bookman Old Style Ż ƒˆ£!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŌ€ XaWXXXŌŌ€ ¼¦»X XaWŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ‡ °ķ°» ¼¦Ōņ ņŃ  ŃAN€INTRODUCTION€TO€TEXAS€POST„Š ° ŠCONVICTION€HABEAS€CORPUSó óŌ#† ¼¦»° °ķ‡#ŌŠ ŒÜ Š(PURSUANT€TO€ARTICLE€11.07,€ņņet€seq.óó,€C.Cr.P.)Š hø ŠĢŌ‡ °ķ°» ¼¦Ōņ ņFOR€LAY€PEOPLE€&€OTHERS€WHOŠ Ø ų ŠNEVER€THOUGHT€THEYššD€CAREó óŌ#† ¼¦»° °ķ„#ŌŠ „ Ō ŠĢŌ‡ XaWX» ¼¦Ōšš€2004€„€John€G.€Jasuta€(Austin,€TX)Ō#† ¼¦»X XaW.#ŌŠ sĆ  ŠĢĢÓ  ÓĢÓÓą  ąWelcome€to€Article€11.07,€Texas€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure,Š ³  Šthe€Texas€statutory€complex€known€as€habeas€corpus,€in€which€theŠ Ł)  Šrules€are€probably€no€longer€what€you€may€have€become€accustomedŠ ’O Što€and€in€which€many€of€your€perceptions€about€the€law€will€proveŠ %u Šincorrect.€€By€now€you€have€probably€completed€a€journey€thoughŠ K› Šthe€criminal€justice€system€including€the€appellate€courts€and€findŠ qĮ Šyourself€š šbriefed€outšš€such€that€you€think€there€is€no€one€who€willŠ — ē Šlisten€within€the€system.€€You€may€well€be€right,€because€habeasŠ ½"  Šcorpus€in€Texas€is€reserved€as€a€remedy€for€extreme€violations€of€theŠ ć$3  Šrights€of€the€defendant€and€the€mistakes€you€perceive€may€not€riseŠ  'Y" Što€that€level.Š /)$ Šą  ąThis€paper€is€intended€as€nothing€more€than€an€introductionŠ U+„&! Što€the€subject€of€post„conviction€habeas€in€the€courts€of€Texas€forŠ {-Ė(# Šlaypeople€or€for€lawyers€who€have€not€practiced€in€this€area.€€It€isŠ ° Šnot€a€primer.€€It€is€not€a€how„to€document.€€It€is€not€a€legal€paper.€Š Ö& ŠAll€of€those€are€available€„€including€a€paper€on€habeas€I€offerŠ üL Šthrough€the€Texas€Independent€Bar€Association.€€Other€of€my€papersŠ " r Šare€available€through€the€State€Bar€of€Texas€as€well€as€the€TexasŠ H ˜ ŠCounty€and€District€Attorneyššs€Assocation.€€Additionally€otherŠ n¾  Šauthors€have€written€papers€and€books€on€the€topic€includingŠ ”ä  Šnational€texts€which€touch€on€Texas€procedures.€€You€will€need€toŠ ŗ  Šinclude€multiple€sources€in€your€research€to€ensure€the€highestŠ ą0 Špossible€percentages€for€success€as€the€odds€are€already€heavilyŠ V Šagainst€you.ņņŠ ,| Šą@ss#ģąŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦Ōņ ņAnyone€Can€Playó óŌ#† ¼¦» ¶¢ #ŌóóˆŠ R¢ Šą  ąOne€of€the€more€interesting€aspects€of€habeas€practice€in€TexasŠ ¬ü Šis€that€it€is€an€area€of€law€which€ANYONE€can€practice.€€You€do€notŠ Ņ " Šneed€to€be€a€lawyer€to€file€a€petition€seeking€relief,€nor€must€you€beŠ ų"H Šincarcerated.€€Any€person€may€file€a€petition€for€seeking€relief€forŠ %n  Šanyone€else.€€Plus,€there€are€no€fees€to€pay.€€And€all€you€have€to€doŠ D'”"  Šis€follow€the€rules.Š j)ŗ$" Šą  ąThe€extent€of€this€ability€to€seek€relief€on€behalf€of€anotherŠ +ą&$ Šperson,€an€ability€usually€reserved€to€attorneys,€has€not€beenŠ ¶-)& Šfleshed€out€by€any€litigation.€€While€the€statute€allows€the€filing€of€aŠ ° Špetition€for€habeas€corpus€relief,€it€goes€no€further.€€Could€aŠ Ö& Šlayperson€appear€in€court€on€anotherššs€behalf€in€an€11.07€matter?€Š üL ŠCan€a€non„lawyer€file€a€brief€on€a€petitionerššs€behalf,€or€signŠ " r Špleadings€on€his€behalf?€€The€history€of€the€Court€of€CriminalŠ H ˜ ŠAppeals€shows€that€others€who€are€not€licensed€to€practice€law€haveŠ n¾  Šbeen€allowed€to€sign€and€file€pleadings€including€briefs€in€casesŠ ”ä  Šother€than€their€own.€€Some€have€claimed€to€be€š šattorneys€in€factššŠ ŗ  Šwhen€signing€such€pleadings.€€I€donššt€think€that€the€statutes€wouldŠ ą0 Šallow€court€appearances€but€who€knows?Š V Šą  ąBecause€of€the€statutory€allowance€of€filings€by€non„lawyers,Š ,| Šinitial€requirements€are€lax.€€You€do€not€have€to€attach€the€judgmentŠ R¢ Šwhich€will€be€done€by€the€District€Clerk.€€Similarly,€you€do€not€haveŠ xČ Što€serve€opposing€counsel€which€will€also€be€done€by€the€DistrictŠ ž ī ŠClerk.€€But€this€liberality€as€to€access€to€the€courts€is€not€extendedŠ Ä" Što€matters€of€proof.Š ź$:  Šą@Ł Ł ģąņņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦Ōņ ņA€Short€Description€of€Habeas€Corpusó óŌ#† ¼¦» ¶ #ŌóóˆŠ '`"  Šą  ąHabeas€corpus€as€discussed€in€this€article€is€a€vehicle€to€attackŠ j)ŗ$" Šthe€illegal€restraint€of€a€person€who,€pursuant€to€the€requirementsŠ +ą&$ Šof€Article€11.07,€has€been€convicted€finally€of€a€felony€without€anyŠ ¶-)& Šremaining€appellate€possibilities.€€This€is€truly€the€š šcourt€of€lastŠ ° Šresortšš€envisioned€by€many€writers.Š Ö& Šą  ąA€š šwrit€of€habeas€corpusšš€is€not€a€mystical€item.€€The€wordŠ üL Šš šwritšš€means€nothing€more€or€less€than€š šorder,šš€in€this€context.€Š " r ŠThus,€one€is€applying€for€an€order,€or€writ,€of€habeas€corpus.€€A€writŠ H ˜ Šof€habeas€corpus€which€is€issued€by€a€court€pursuant€to€such€anŠ n¾  Šapplication€simply€imposes€a€requirement€on€the€custodian€of€aŠ ”ä  Šprisoner€that€the€detention€be€explained€and€justified.€€This€isŠ ŗ  Šusually€accomplished€by€showing€a€legal€document€allowing€forŠ ą0 Šsuch€€detention.€€It€is€then€up€to€the€petitioner€to€show€that€theŠ V Šjustification€is€incomplete€or€flawed€such€as€to€require€a€new€trialŠ ,| Šwith€the€mistakes€not€repeated.Š R¢ Šą@w w ģąņņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦Ōņ ņNot€an€Easy€Propositionóóó óŌ#† ¼¦» ¶Ÿ#ԈŠ xČ Šą  ąObtaining€relief€pursuant€to€habeas€corpus€is€NOT€easy!€€It€isŠ Ņ " Šnot€the€procedures€which€are€difficult€„€a€form€is€required€making€itŠ ų"H Šfairly€easy€for€just€about€anyone€to€file€an€application.€€ButŠ %n  Šidentifying€a€mistake€or€error€which€will€or€might€result€in€relief€viaŠ D'”"  Šhabeas€corpus€is€exceedingly€difficult€and€that€is€the€first€step.€Š j)ŗ$" ŠThere€are€many€papers,€articles€and€€books€which€can€help€you€inŠ +ą&$ Šthis€process,€several€of€which€I€authored€and€which€are€availableŠ ¶-)& Šthrough€the€website€for€the€Texas€Independent€Bar€Association.€Š ° ŠOthers€are€also€available€ranging€from€self€help€books€by€formerŠ Ö& Šinmates€to€national€studies€of€habeas€case€law€and€proceduresŠ üL Šwhich€cover€Texas€law.€€All€will€offer,€to€some€degree€or€another,Š " r Švaluable€insights€both€as€to€procedure€and€the€law€at€this€phase€ofŠ H ˜ Šthe€criminal€justice€odessey.Š n¾  Šą  ąOnce€you€have€identified€those€allegations€of€error€which€youŠ ”ä  Šintend€to€bring€to€the€€courtsšš€attention€you€must€face€the€next,€andŠ ŗ  Šperhaps€harder,€obstacle€„€proving€your€allegation.€€Merely€havingŠ ą0 Šthe€affected€party€swear€to€the€factual€allegations€is€not€enough€Š V Šproof€to€carry€the€day.€€In€fact,€that€level€of€proof€wonššt€get€you€anŠ ,| Šanswer€most€of€the€time.€€Simply€put,€you€must€be€prepared€toŠ R¢ Šprove,€by€affidavit€to€be€attached€to€the€application€€and,€later,€byŠ xČ Šactual€live€testimony,€the€truth€of€the€factual€allegationsŠ ž ī Šdemonstrating€the€error€€which€is€so€egregious€as€to€entitle€you€toŠ Ä" Šrelief€by€habeas€corpus.€€There€is€no€presumption€that€will€help€youŠ ź$:  Šout,€no€lowering€of€the€bar€because€the€person€affected€is€a€prisonerŠ '`"  Šgenerally€even€though€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€does€tend€toŠ 6)†$" Šinvestigate€some€areas€in€which€availability€of€proof€to€a€prisoner€isŠ \+¬&$ Šsomewhat€restricted€in€lieu€of€requiring€those€prisoners€to€try€toŠ ‚-Ņ(& ŠŌ_Ōobtain€records€easily€obtainable€by€trial€officials.€€Donššt€count€onŠ ° Šthat€happening€to€you€or€in€your€case.€€As€mentioned€earlier,€theŠ Ö& ŠTexas€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€€is€very€liberal€in€its€attitude€towardŠ üL Šaccess€to€the€courts€with€the€allegations.€€This€does€not€mean€thatŠ " r Šthere€is€any€liberality€in€proof€issues,€and,€in€fact,€there€is€not.€€AnyŠ H ˜ Špresumption€will€be€against€you€and€in€favor€of€continued€detentionŠ n¾  Šof€the€affected€person.Š ”ä  Šą@44 ģąŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦Ōņ ņņņOne€Swing€at€the€Ballóóó óŌ#† ¼¦» ¶$#ԈŠ ŗ  Šą  ąOne€of€the€biggest€reasons€you€should€not€count€on€anythingŠ d Šresembling€luck€or€official€intervention€into€your€situation€is€thatŠ :Š Šyou€only€get€once€chance!€€There€are€certain€exceptions€and€anŠ `° Šinmate€might€be€entitled€to€multiple€applications€depending€on€theŠ †Ö Šavailability€of€one€of€those€exceptions€but€my€best€advice€is€toŠ ¬ü Šrecognize€and€accept€that€you€will€probably€only€get€this€one€chance.€Š Ņ " ŠBuild€your€case€completely€and€as€fully€as€you€possibly€can.€€If€youŠ ų"H Šcannot€prove€something€right€now€which,€if€proven€could€well€resultŠ %n  Šin€relief,€consider€holding€off€from€filing€anything€until€such€time€asŠ D'”"  Šyou€can€prove€your€allegation€and€donššt€hope€for€luck,€despite€theŠ j)ŗ$" Šdisadvantages€to€waiting.€€But€no€matter€what€you€do,€or€how€longŠ +ą&$ Šyou€wait,€be€completely€aware€that€you€will€only€get,€in€all€likelihood,Š ¶-)& Šone€chance€to€attack€the€substance€of€the€conviction.€€ņņDo€not€wasteŠ ° Šit.óóŠ Ö& Šą@;;"ģąņņņ ņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦ŌTime€LimitationsŌ#† ¼¦» ¶Ķ)#Ōó óóóˆŠ üL Šą  ąThere€are€no€time€limitations€set€out€within€the€Texas€statutesŠ V ¦ Šin€which€an€application€seeking€habeas€relief€has€to€be€filed.€€ThatŠ | Ģ Šdoes€not€mean,€however,€that€there€are€not€considerations€involvingŠ ¢ņ  Šthe€timing€of€the€filing€from€other€sources€which€must€beŠ Č  Šconsidered.Š ī> Šą  ąThere€is,€first,€a€time€limit€imposed€by€the€federal€statutes€onŠ d Šthe€length€of€time€in€which€a€federal€habeas€petition€attacking€aŠ :Š Šstate€conviction€must€be€filed.€€Since€an€applicant€for€federal€habeasŠ `° Šcorpus€relief€must€first€show€that€he€presented€his€allegation(s)€toŠ †Ö Šthe€state€courts,€this€acts€indirectly€as€a€time€limitation€on€the€filingŠ ¬ü Šof€the€state€petition.€€This€time€limitation€becomes€very€important€ifŠ Ņ " Šyou€are€having€problems€proving€your€allegation.€€The€decision€asŠ ų"H Što€whether€to€take€an€incomplete€application€to€State€court€so€thatŠ %n  Šthe€federal€habeas€route€is€not€lost€is€one€of€the€hardest€decisionsŠ D'”"  Šfacing€lawyers,€and€you€should€consider€the€question€carefully€priorŠ j)ŗ$" Što€deciding€what€to€do€if€the€time€limitation€is€a€problem€in€yourŠ +ą&$ Šcase.Š ¶-)& Šą  ąSecondly,€there€is€the€equitable€concept€of€ņņlachesóó,€whichŠ ° Špunishes€an€applicant€who€waits€too€long€to€attack€the€conviction.€Š  Z ŠThis€doctrine€is€in€effect€in€both€the€State€and€federal€courts.€€ThisŠ 0 € Šlimitation€is€less€precise€than€that€set€up€by€the€federal€governmentŠ V ¦ Šin€its€statutes€as€it€depends€on€the€State€claiming€and€showing€anŠ | Ģ Šinability€to€respond€to€the€application€due€to€the€passage€of€time.€Š ¢ņ  ŠThus,€if€you€think€that€you€can€wait€until€your€attorney€dies€andŠ Č  Šthen€claim€he€didnššt€tell€you€something€you€should€reconsider€sinceŠ ī> Šthe€waiting€could€well€doom€your€efforts.Š d Šą  ąLastly,€while€not€truly€a€time€limitation,€there€is€theŠ :Š Šrequirement€that€YOU€prove€the€allegation,€a€task€made€all€the€moreŠ `° Šdifficult€by€the€passage€of€time.€€If€you€expect€that€someone€willŠ †Ö Štestify€to€certain€facts€to€your€benefit€get€that€testimonyŠ ¬ü Šmemorialized€as€soon€as€possible€because€time€dims€memories€inŠ Ņ " Šjust€about€everyone€and€such€memory€loss€will€usually€not€act€toŠ ų"H Šyour€benefit.Š %n  Šą@źź$ģąņņņ ņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦ŌForm€RequiredŌ#† ¼¦» ¶ō4#Ōó óóóˆŠ D'”"  Šą  ąAll€persons€filing€an€application€for€habeas€corpus€relief€underŠ ž)ī$" ŠArticle€11.07€must€use€a€form€promulgated€by€the€Court€of€CriminalŠ Ä+'$ ŠAppeals€which€is€obtainable€on€their€web€site.€€Additionally,€theŠ ° ŠDistrict€Clerk€of€each€county€is€required€by€rule€to€disseminate€thatŠ Ö& Šform€when€requested.€€If€you€attempt€to€file€an€application€seekingŠ üL Šrelief€under€the€Article€it€will€be€rejected€by€the€District€Clerk€unlessŠ " r Šit€is€on€the€required€form.€€No€exceptions€are€made€and€you€willŠ H ˜ Šprobably€not€be€one€to€get€the€first€such€exception.€€This€applies€toŠ n¾  Šapplications€filed€by€licensed€attorneys€also,€much€to€some€lawyersššŠ ”ä  Šchagrin,€but€application€of€the€requirement€is€absolute€so€donšštŠ ŗ  Šwaste€your€time€and€efforts€fighting€it.€€Unless,€of€course,€you€justŠ ą0 Šwant€to.Š V Šą@„„#ģąņņņ ņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦ŌUse€of€the€FormŌ#† ¼¦» ¶o9#Ōó óóóˆŠ ,| Šą  ąFill€out€the€form€completely€as€possible.€€Some€questions€mayŠ †Ö Šnot€apply€to€you€and€you€may€say€so€but€do€not€just€fail€to€answer.€Š ¬ü ŠDo€not€lie.€€The€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€keeps€records€on€eachŠ Ņ " Šapplication€filed€and€cross€references€them€to€the€extent€that€theyŠ ų"H Šknow€whether€you€have€filed€a€previous€application€attacking€thisŠ %n  Šconviction€and€will€quickly€determine€you€have€and€reject,€withoutŠ D'”"  Šconsideration,€your€petition.€€It€is€far€better€to€argue€an€exception€toŠ j)ŗ$" Šthe€question€you€are€seeking€to€avoid€rather€than€simply€notŠ +ą&$ Šanswering€it.€€As€to€lying,€if€you€are€caught€lying€even€a€little€bit€yourŠ ¶-)& Šefficacy€will€plummet€and€your€allegations€will€be€read€withŠ ° Šsuspicion.€€It€is€not€worth€it.Š Ö& Šą  ąOne€particular€pitfall€which€is€not€explained€very€clearly€in€theŠ üL Šform€or€its€instructions€is€found€in€question€#€18,€that€calling€forŠ " r Štwo€parts,€the€first€an€allegation,€and€the€second€part,€a€statementŠ H ˜ Šof€fact€supporting€the€allegation.€€No€legal€arguments€are€allowed,Š n¾  Šwhich€must€be€made€in€a€separate€memorandum€attached€to€theŠ ”ä  Šapplication.€€But€many€applicants€set€out€their€allegations€withinŠ ŗ  Šthe€memorandum€and€then€in€the€first€part€of€question€18€refer€toŠ ą0 Šthat€separate€document€instead€of€setting€out€the€allegation€asŠ V Šrequired€on€the€form.€€This€will€get€the€€application€rejected.€€TheŠ ,| Šform€instructions€are€clear€that€additional€pages€may€only€beŠ R¢ Šattached€for€two€reasons:€additional€factual€averments€orŠ xČ Šdevelopment€or€for€a€memorandum€of€law.€€The€rule€does€not€allowŠ ž ī Šadditional€pages€to€set€out€your€allegations€and€thus€they€must€beŠ Ä" Šon€the€form€in€writing.€€It€might€sound€like€nitpicking€or€even€sillyŠ ź$:  Što€some,€but€not€following€that€little€piece€of€advice€will€keep€yourŠ '`"  Šapplication€from€being€seen€by€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€andŠ 6)†$" Šthat€seems€a€high€price€to€pay.€€Put€the€allegation€on€the€form€andŠ \+¬&$ Šat€the€correct€spot.Š ‚-Ņ(& Šą@ģąņņņ ņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦ŌFiling€the€ApplicationŌ#† ¼¦» ¶ƒC#Ōó óóóˆŠ ° Šą  ąNow€that€you€have€done€your€research€and€painstakingly€filledŠ  Z Šout€the€form€you€are€ready€to€file€the€application€correctly.€€You€mustŠ 0 € Šfile€that€application€with€the€District€Clerk€of€the€county€of€theŠ V ¦ Šconviction.€€This€is€true€notwithstanding€your€belief€that€the€mistakeŠ | Ģ Šof€which€complaint€is€made€did€not€happen€in€that€county,€such€asŠ ¢ņ  Šan€attack€on€a€parole€revocation€procedure€which€may€haveŠ Č  Šhappened€in€an€entirely€different€county.€€It€matters€not.€€TheŠ ī> Šapplication€must,€without€exception,€be€filed€in€the€county€ofŠ d Šconviction.€€The€form€contains€a€blank€in€which€to€put€the€nameŠ :Š Šand€number€of€the€convicting€court.€€The€District€Clerk€will€see€to€itŠ `° Šthat€it€gets€to€that€court€for€processing.Š †Ö Šą@J J ģąņņņ ņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦ŌInitial€Processing€of€the€ApplicationŌ#† ¼¦» ¶“G#Ōó óóóˆŠ ¬ü Šą  ąThe€District€Clerks€of€each€of€Texasšš€254€counties€will€processŠ !V Šthe€application€slightly€differently€although€in€each€instance€theŠ ,#| Šresult€will€be€more€or€less€the€same.€€The€application€will€beŠ R%¢  Štransferred€to€the€District€Attorney€for€reply,€which€may€or€may€notŠ x'Č"  Šbe€forthcoming,€and€then€to€the€District€Court€of€conviction,€actingŠ ž)ī$" Šas€the€habeas€court,€for€fact„finding€and€recommendations€for€finalŠ Ä+'$ Šaction€to€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€the€court€with€the€finalŠ ° Šdecision„making€authority.€€Upon€the€making€of€those€fact„findingsŠ Ö& Šand/or€recommendations€the€District€Clerk€will€transfer€theŠ üL Šapplication€to€the€high€court.Š " r Šą  ąThere€are€time€limits€in€which€each€stage€of€the€process€isŠ H ˜ Šsupposed€to€be€completed€compliance€with€which€can,€by€laboriousŠ n¾  Šefforts,€be€forced.€€For€the€most€part€those€officials€in€the€countiesŠ ”ä  Šdo€not€need€to€be€forced€to€do€anything€in€the€area€of€moving€theŠ ŗ  Šapplication€as€they€are€usually€more€than€willing€to€rid€themselvesŠ ą0 Šof€the€applications€they€find€themselves€dealing€with€and€moving€itŠ V Što€the€high€court€is€the€easiest€way€to€do€that.Š ,| Šą@ŲŲ%ģąņņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦Ōņ ņThe€Answeró óŌ#† ¼¦» ¶źM#ŌóóˆŠ R¢ Šą  ąThe€District€Attorney€of€the€county€of€conviction€is€that€officialŠ ¬ü Šwho€will€file€an€answer€to€the€application€for€habeas€relief€„€maybe.€Š Ņ " ŠThe€law€seems€to€require€such€an€answer€but€there€is€no€penalty€forŠ ų"H Ša€failure€to€file€it.€€In€fact,€the€law€sets€up€an€answer€in€the€form€ofŠ %n  Ša€general€denial€which,€in€the€absence€of€further€and€specific€action,Š D'”"  Šwill€become€the€finding€of€fact€by€statutory€default.€€Thus,€youŠ j)ŗ$" Šcannot€win€by€default€or€the€failure€of€the€Stateššs€representative€toŠ +ą&$ Šanswer.€€In€fact,€many€of€the€Stateššs€District€Attorneys€ignore€habeasŠ ¶-)& Špetitions€safe€in€the€denials€created€by€the€statute€and€secure€in€theŠ ° Šknowledge€that€no€relief€will€be€forthcoming€without€their€beingŠ Ö& Šgiven€another€chance€to€rebut€the€assertions,€either€through€aŠ üL Šhearing€following€remand,€or€a€brief€in€the€Court€of€Criminal€AppealsŠ " r Šif€the€case€is€set€for€a€decision€by€that€Court.Š H ˜ Šą@ō ō ģąņņņ ņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦ŌThe€Trial€Courtššs€RoleŌ#† ¼¦» ¶ķR#Ōó óóóˆŠ n¾  Šą  ąThe€trial€court€is€the€key€to€post„conviction€habeas€success€inŠ Č  ŠTexas.€€There€are€other€ways€to€succeed,€of€course,€but€the€trialŠ ī> Šcourt€acting€as€the€habeas€court,€has€a€great€deal€of€influence€in€itsŠ d Špower€to€make€specific€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€lawŠ :Š Šregarding€your€factual€allegations,€along€with€recommendations€forŠ `° Šdisposition€based€on€those€findings€and€conclusions.€€Simply€put,Š †Ö Šif€the€habeas€court€comes€down€on€your€side€your€odds€just€got€aŠ ¬ü Šwhole€lot€better.€€Thus,€you€must€make€every€effort€to€convince€thatŠ Ņ " Šcourt€of€the€correctness€of€your€position.Š ų"H Šą  ąThis€otherwise€makes€sense€as€it€is€generally€easier€to€convinceŠ %n  Šone€person€than€a€majority€of€nine.€€You€should€bend€every€effort€toŠ D'”"  Šprove€your€case€to€the€trial€court€for€this€reason.€€Do€not€make€theŠ j)ŗ$" Šmistake€of€thinking€that€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€will€overruleŠ +ą&$ Šthe€habeas€court€because€if€the€habeas€courtššs€findings€areŠ ¶-)& Šsupported€in€any€way€by€the€record€they€will€be€upheld.€€There€areŠ ° Šinstances€of€the€high€court€intervening€and€starting€the€€processŠ Ö& Šwhich€leads€to€relief€by€remand,€but€the€other€possible€outcome,Š üL Šthat€of€denial€based€on€the€trial€courtššs€findings,€is€much€moreŠ " r Šcommon.Š H ˜ Šą@00ģąņņņ ņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦ŌProcessing€in€the€Court€of€Criminal€AppealsŌ#† ¼¦» ¶ÆY#Ōó óóóˆŠ n¾  Šą  ąThe€application€will€be€received€by€the€Clerk€of€the€Court€ofŠ Č  ŠCriminal€Appeals€and€delivered€to€the€Central€Staff€of€that€Court€forŠ ī> Šlegal€analysis€and€recommendation.€€Upon€completion,€the€ClerkŠ d Šensures€delivery€of€the€application€along€with€the€Central€StaffššsŠ :Š Šmemorandum€to€an€individual€member€of€the€Court€who€has€theŠ `° Šresponsibility€of€reporting€the€case€to€the€entire€Court,€known€as€theŠ †Ö ŠConference.€€In€most€cases€the€individual€member€of€the€Court€isŠ ¬ü Šempowered€to€act€on€the€Courtššs€behalf€but€internal€rules€dictateŠ Ņ " Šthat€some€of€those€cases€must€be€decided€by€the€entire€Court€actingŠ ų"H Šas€a€collective.€€The€decisions€of€the€Court€are€announced€onŠ %n  ŠWednesday€mornings€and€include€applications€decided€that€week.Š D'”"  ŠŠ  j)ŗ$" Šą@[['ģąņ ņŌ‡  ¶» ¼¦ŌņņSummaryóóŌ#† ¼¦» ¶^#Ōó óˆŠ ° Šą  ąThe€law€of€Texas€relating€to€post„conviction€applications€forŠ  Z Šhabeas€relief€is€designed€to€process€inmate€complaints€quickly€andŠ 0 € Šefficiently€and,€in€most€instances,€succeeds.€€For€the€most€partŠ V ¦ Špersons€involved€in€the€system€are€willing€to€assist€in€reaching€theŠ | Ģ Šcorrect€result€although€in€just€about€every€case€those€people€will€beŠ ¢ņ  Šdefensive€and€unwilling€early€on.€€The€law€requires€them€to€act,Š Č  Šhowever,€and€they€will€do€so€to€process€your€application,€especiallyŠ ī> Šif€they€are€treated€with€the€respect€they€deserve.€€The€law€is€to€beŠ d Šadmired€as€it€allows€a€freedom€unheard€of€in€other€lands.€€TheŠ :Š Šprisoner€has€the€right€to€demand€justification€for€his€detention€andŠ `° Šthe€law€will€facilitate€that€right.€€The€percentages€for€success€are€notŠ †Ö Švery€high€nor€should€they€be€given€that€there€will€have€been€severalŠ ¬ü Šchances€for€€mistakes€to€have€been€rectified€prior€to€the€prisonerššsŠ Ņ " Špetition.€€But€the€system€is€in€place€and€does€result€in€relief€whichŠ ų"H Šcannot€be€said€in€many€other€parts€of€the€world.Š %n  Šą@!ģąņņSome€Final€ThoughtsóóˆŠ D'”"  Šą  ąCan€one€win€in€habeas€in€Texas?€€Of€course.€€Too€many€peopleŠ j)ŗ$" Šhave€done€so€to€think€€otherwise.€€Many€of€those€wins€involve€whatŠ +ą&$ Što€most€people€are€trivial€matters€such€as€time€credits€or€the€right€toŠ ¶-)& Špetition€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€for€discretionary€review.€€ButŠ ° Što€the€persons€who€are€affected€by€the€mistakes€which€are€fixed€inŠ Ö& Šthose€š štrivialšš€matters€they€are€of€prime€importance.€€And€theyŠ üL Šshould€be€to€us,€too.€€Not€because€some€inmate€got€out€of€prisonŠ " r Štwenty„five€days€early€as€he€was€supposed€to€do€but€because€thatŠ H ˜ Šperson€was€able€to€insist,€through€the€courts,€on€the€mistake€beingŠ n¾  Šrectified.€€That€says€a€lot€about€our€system€and€its€priorities,€andŠ ”ä  Šabout€us.€€And€I€like€what€it€says.