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Richardson v. StateRichardson v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Nov 9, 1988
1067-87
Reporters:
, ,
Before:
Per Curiam

*20 OPINION ON APPELLANT’S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

PER CURIAM.

Appeal is taken from a conviction for the offense of ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‍involuntary manslaughter. After finding appellant guilty, the jury assessed punishment at ten years confinement.

On direct appeal, appellant argued the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the law concerning good time ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‍and parole, inasmuch as the charge is predicated upon an unconstitutional statute. The Court of Appeals rejected appellant’s challenge to Article 37.07, Sec. 4, V.A.C.C.P. Richardson v. State, 733 S.W.2d 947 (Tex.App. 3rd Dist., 1987).

In his ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‍petition for discretionary review, appellant urges the Court of Appeals erred in holding Article 37.07, Sec. 4, supra, is constitutional. We find appellant is correct.

In Rose v. State, 752 S.W.2d 529 (Tex.Crim.App.1988), this Court determined that Article 37.07, ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‍Sec. 4, is unconstitutional. Under Rose, supra, it is still necessary for the Court of Appeals to conduct a harmless error analysis under the guidelines of Tex. R.App.P. 81(b)(2).

The judgment of the Court of Appeals ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‍is vacated and this cause is remanded to that Court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Case Details

Case Name: Richardson v. State
Court Name: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Date Published: Nov 9, 1988
Citations: 761 S.W.2d 19; 1988 WL 118339; 1988 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 230; 1067-87
Docket Number: 1067-87
Court Abbreviation: Tex. Crim. App.
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