                                 COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
                            FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON

                                              ORDER

Appellate case name:      Kelvin Morris Jones, Jr. v. The State of Texas

Appellate case number:    01-15-00028-CR and 01-15-00029-CR

Trial court case number: 13-03-02825 CR (Count 1) and 13-02-02825 CR (Count 2)

Trial court:              359th District Court of Montgomery County

        Appellant’s retained counsel, Luro Taylor, has not filed a brief on appellant’s behalf. The
complete record was filed in the above-referenced appeal on February 8, 2015; therefore,
appellant’s brief was due on March 11, 2015. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(a). On March 26 and
March 30, 2015, the Clerk of this Court notified appellant’s counsel, Luro Taylor, that a brief
had not been filed and, unless appellant filed a motion requesting an extension of time along with
appellant’s brief or a motion to extend time to file appellant’s brief no later than April 6, 2015,
the Court might be required to order the trial court to conduct a hearing pursuant to rule 38.8. See
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(b)(2), (3). Appellant filed a motion for extension of time, which this Court
granted. After this Court granted a second motion for extension of time, appellant’s brief was
due on July 6, 2015. On July 13, 2015, the Clerk of this Court again notified appellant’s counsel
that a brief had not been filed and, unless appellant filed a brief no later than July 23, 2015, the
Court might be required to order the trial court to conduct a hearing pursuant to rule 38.8. See
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(b)(2), (3). Counsel has not filed a brief on appellant’s behalf or otherwise
responded.
        Accordingly, we abate the appeal and remand for the trial court to immediately conduct a
hearing at which a representative of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and
appellant’s counsel, Luro Taylor, shall be present. See TEX. R. APP. 38.8(b)(2). Appellant shall
also be present for the hearing in person or, if appellant is incarcerated, at the trial court’s
discretion, appellant may participate in the hearing by closed-circuit video teleconferencing.1


1      Any such teleconference must use a closed-circuit video teleconferencing system that
       provides for a simultaneous compressed full motion video and interactive communication
       of image and sound between the trial court, appellant, and any attorneys representing the
       State or appellant. On appellant’s request, appellant and his counsel shall be able to
       communicate privately without being recorded or heard by the trial court or the attorney
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       The trial court shall have a court reporter record the hearing. The trial court is directed to:

       (1) make a finding on whether appellant wishes to prosecute the appeal;
       (2) if appellant wishes to prosecute the appeal, determine whether counsel Luro Taylor
           has abandoned the appeal;
       (3) if counsel Luro Taylor has not abandoned the appeal:
               a.     inquire of counsel the reasons, if any, that he has failed to file a brief on
                      appellant’s behalf;
               b.     determine whether appellant has paid counsel’s fee for preparing an
                      appellate brief and determine whether appellant has made any other
                      necessary arrangements for filing a brief; and
               c.     set a date when appellant’s brief is due, regardless of whether this Court
                      has yet reinstated the appeal and no later than 30 days from the date of the
                      hearing;
       (4) if Luro Taylor has abandoned this appeal, enter a written order relieving Luro Taylor
           of his duties as appellant’s counsel, including in the order the basis for the finding of
           abandonment, determine whether appellant is indigent, and:
               a.     if appellant is now indigent, appoint substitute appellate counsel at no
                      expense to appellant;
               b.     if appellant is not indigent, admonish appellant of the dangers and
                      disadvantages of self-representation, and:
                       i. determine whether appellant is knowingly and intelligently waiving his
                          right to counsel and, if so, obtain a written waiver of the right to
                          counsel and set a date when appellant’s brief is due, regardless of
                          whether this Court has yet reinstated the appeal and no later than 30
                          days from the date of the hearing; or,
                      ii. if appellant does not wish to proceed pro se, provide a deadline by
                          which appellant must hire an attorney, which must be no more than 30
                          days from the date of the hearing;
       (5) make any other findings and recommendations the trial court deems appropriate; and
       (6) enter written findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations as to these
           issues, separate and apart from any docket sheet notations.

See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.051(a), (d)(1), (f) (West Supp. 2014); TEX. R. APP. P.
38.8(b); Gonzalez v. State, 117 S.W.3d 831, 837 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (stating that
presumption in favor of right to choice of counsel may be overridden by other factors relating to
fair and orderly administration of justice); Webb v. State, 533 S.W.2d 780, 784, 785 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1976) (stating that criminal defendant may not manipulate right to choose counsel so as to
interfere with fair administration of justice; “The trial court should therefore admonish an
accused who desires to represent himself regarding the wisdom and practical consequences of
that choice.”); Carter v. State, No. 01-95-00977-CR, 1997 WL 184385, *1 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] April 17, 1997, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication) (“Thus, the public interest
in the fair and orderly administration of justice may be greater than an accused’s right to have


       representing the State.
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counsel of his own choice.”); cf. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.051(g) (requiring trial court
to advise defendant of dangers and disadvantages of self-representation prior to proceeding to
trial), 26.04(j)(2) (West Supp. 2014) (authorizing trial court to order appointed counsel to
withdraw after finding of good cause is entered on record).

        The trial court clerk is directed to file a supplemental clerk’s record containing the trial
court’s findings and recommendations with this Court no later than 30 days from the date of this
order. The court reporter is directed to file the reporter’s record of the hearing no later than 30
days from the date of this order. If the hearing is conducted by video teleconference, a certified
video recording of the hearing shall also be filed in this Court no later than 30 days from the date
of this order.

        The appeal is abated, treated as a closed case, and removed from this Court’s active
docket. The appeal will be reinstated on this Court’s active docket when the supplemental clerk’s
record and the reporter’s record are filed in this Court. The court coordinator of the trial court
shall set a hearing date and notify the parties and the Clerk of this Court of such date.

       It is so ORDERED.


Judge’s signature: /s/ Terry Jennings
                    Acting individually       Acting for the Court


Date: September 15, 2015




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