Talal Nimer El Haj v. State ( 2014 )

NUMBER 13-13-00326-CR COURT OF APPEALS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG TALAL NIMER EL HAJ, Appellant, v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee. On appeal from the 389th District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas. ORDER OF ABATEMENT Before Justices Garza, Benavides, and Perkes Order Per Curiam This cause is before the Court on appellant’s failure to file a brief. Appellant’s brief was originally due on August 21, 2013. This Court has previously granted appellant three extensions for the filing of appellant’s brief with the brief being due on March 6, 2014. On March 20, 2014, the Clerk of the Court notified appellant’s counsel that the brief had not been filed and requested a response concerning the failure to file the brief within ten days. Counsel has nevertheless failed to file either a response or an appellate brief in this matter. Accordingly, we now ABATE this appeal and REMAND the cause to the trial court for further proceedings pursuant to Rule 38.8(b)(2) and (3) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. Upon remand, the trial court shall utilize whatever means necessary to make appropriate findings and recommendations concerning the following: (1) whether appellant desires to prosecute this appeal; (2) why appellant's counsel has failed to file a brief and whether counsel has effectively abandoned the appeal; (3) whether appellant has been denied effective assistance of counsel; (4) whether appellant's counsel should be removed; and (5) whether appellant is indigent and entitled to court-appointed counsel. If the trial court determines that appellant does want to continue the appeal, that present counsel should be removed, and that appellant is indigent and entitled to court-appointed counsel, the trial court shall appoint new counsel to represent appellant in this appeal. If new counsel is appointed, the name, address, telephone number, and state bar number of said counsel shall be included in an order appointing counsel. The trial court shall cause its findings and recommendations, together with any orders it may enter regarding the aforementioned issues, to be included in a supplemental clerk's record. Furthermore, the trial court shall cause a supplemental reporter's record of any proceedings to be prepared. The supplemental clerk's record and supplemental 2 reporter's record, if any, shall be filed with the Clerk of this Court on or before the expiration of thirty days from the date of this order. It is so ORDERED. PER CURIAM Do not publish Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b). Delivered and filed the 30th day of April, 2014. 3