Porcher, Ex Parte Clifton Levon ( 2009 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
NO. AP-76,074
EX PARTE CLIFTON LEVON PORCHER, Applicant
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
CAUSE NO. 991386 IN THE 232nd DISTRICT COURT
FROM HARRIS 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 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 life years’ imprisonment. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction.
Porcher v. State, No. 14-05-00867-CR (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.], delivered March 6, 2007,
no pet.).
Applicant contends that his appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel
failed to timely notify Applicant that his conviction had been affirmed and failed to advise him of
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his right to petition for discretionary review pro se. We remanded this application to the trial court
for findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Appellate counsel filed an affidavit with the trial court. Based on that affidavit, the trial court
has entered findings of fact and conclusions of law that appellate counsel failed to timely notify
Applicant that his conviction had been affirmed and failed to advise him of his right to petition for
discretionary appeal pro se. The trial court recommends that relief be granted. Ex parte Wilson, 956
S.W.2d 25 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). We find, therefore, that Applicant is entitled to the opportunity
to file an out-of-time petition for discretionary review of the judgment of the Fourteenth Court of
Appeals in Cause No. 14-05-00867-CR that affirmed his conviction in Case No. 991386 from the
232nd Judicial District Court of Harris County. Applicant shall file his petition for discretionary
review with the Fourteenth Court of Appeals within 30 days of the date on which this Court’s
mandate issues.
Delivered: January 28, 2009
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