Joshua Walker v. the State of Texas

Summary

The Seventh District Court of Appeals of Texas affirmed Joshua Walker’s murder conviction and eighty-year sentence. The court held that Walker forfeited his right to an on-the-record ability-to-pay inquiry under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 42.15(a-1) by failing to object to the trial court’s omission.

Holdings

1. A defendant forfeits the right to an on-the-record inquiry into the ability to immediately pay fines and costs under Article 42.15(a-1) by failing to object because the inquiry is not fundamental to the adjudicatory process.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the trial court's failure to conduct an on-the-record inquiry into appellant's ability to immediately pay fines and costs under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 42.15(a-1) required remand when appellant did not object.

Disposition

affirmed