Summary
This document is Stanley Dale Self's pro se petition for discretionary review in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, arising from two attempted appeals concerning the denial of appointed counsel for postconviction habeas corpus proceedings. Self argues that the Second Court of Appeals improperly dismissed the appeals for lack of jurisdiction and asserts an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim under the Sixth Amendment. The filing includes the Second Court of Appeals' July 23, 2015 memorandum opinion and the underlying trial court order as appendices.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the court of appeals had jurisdiction over appeals from trial-court orders denying appointment of counsel for postconviction habeas proceedings under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 11.07.
Holdings
- The court of appeals lacks jurisdiction over appeals from trial-court orders relating to postconviction applications for writs of habeas corpus, including orders denying appointment of postconviction habeas counsel.
Key quotations
“Therefore, we dismiss the appeals for want of jurisdiction.” (Memorandum opinion, no pagination provided)
Factual background
A Denton County jury found Stanley Dale Self guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child and assessed punishment at ninety-nine years' imprisonment. Self later sought appointment of counsel to prepare and prosecute a postconviction application for writ of habeas corpus. The 367th District Court denied the motion, and Self attempted to appeal the denial in two cause numbers.
Procedural history
Self was convicted by a jury in Denton County of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced to ninety-nine years' imprisonment. After the trial court denied his motion for appointment of counsel for postconviction habeas proceedings, he attempted to appeal both orders. The Second Court of Appeals notified him that it questioned its jurisdiction, received his response, and dismissed the appeals for want of jurisdiction.