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London, Joshua
PD-0480-15
Tex. App.
Jul 29, 2015
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Background

  • Appellant Joshua London pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine (1–4 grams) and was sentenced to 25 years; the reporter was waived for plea and sentencing.
  • Judgment was entered May 3, 2013; a bill of costs listing a $35 "Summoning Witness/Mileage" charge was not prepared until May 22, 2013 (19 days after judgment).
  • The record does not show the cost bill was provided to London or counsel, nor whether the $35 charge related to State or defense subpoenas.
  • London challenged the $35 sheriff’s/summoning witness fee as unconstitutional as-applied to an indigent defendant; he raised the challenge on appeal, not at trial.
  • The First Court of Appeals affirmed, holding London waived an as-applied constitutional challenge by not raising it at trial; London sought discretionary review from the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Issues

Issue Plaintiff's Argument Defendant's Argument Held
Whether an as-applied constitutional challenge to art. 102.011(a)(3) (summoning witness fee) may be raised for the first time on appeal where the bill of costs was issued after judgment London: The cost bill was not produced until 19 days after judgment and never provided to him, so he lacked opportunity to object; under Landers, Johnson, and Cardenas such challenges or challenges to assessed costs can be raised on appeal State/First Ct. of Appeals: As-applied constitutional claims must be preserved at trial; Curry bars raising such challenges for first time on appeal; Johnson did not overrule Curry First Court of Appeals held the claim waived for failure to raise it in trial court; London asks CCA to reverse and remand for merits consideration

Key Cases Cited

  • Landers v. State, 402 S.W.3d 252 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (fees not imposed in open court and not provided to appellant may be challenged on direct appeal)
  • Johnson v. State, 423 S.W.3d 385 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) (challenge to factual basis for assessed statutory costs may be raised for first time on appeal)
  • Cardenas v. State, 423 S.W.3d 396 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) (convicted defendants have constructive notice of statutory mandatory costs and may challenge assessed costs on appeal or via art. 103.008)
  • Sturdivant v. State, 445 S.W.3d 435 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014) (on remand applying Landers: appellant not given opportunity to object to post-judgment itemized costs and need not file bill of exception)
  • Ramirez v. State, 410 S.W.3d 359 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013) (interpreting art. 102.011 to require $5 fee each time a witness is summoned)
  • Rylander v. Caldwell, 23 S.W.3d 132 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000) (art. 103.008 remedies errors in cost calculation but does not provide forum for constitutional challenge to statutory costs)
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Case Details

Case Name: London, Joshua
Court Name: Court of Appeals of Texas
Date Published: Jul 29, 2015
Docket Number: PD-0480-15
Court Abbreviation: Tex. App.