Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 2023

Jimmy Klayton Launder v. the State of Texas

Jimmy Klayton Launder v. the State of Texas
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided January 5, 2023

Jimmy Klayton Launder v. the State of Texas

Opinion

Opinion issued January 5, 2023

In The Court of Appeals For The First District of Texas ———————————— NO. 01-20-00759-CR ——————————— JIMMY KLAYTON LAUDER, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 209th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Case No. 1615195

MEMORANDUM OPINION Appellant, Jimmy Klayton Lauder, pleaded guilty to the offense of arson without an agreed recommendation as to punishment. See TEX. PENAL CODE § 28.02.

After a pre-sentencing hearing, the trial court signed a judgment of conviction on November 2, 2020 and sentenced Lauder to 8 years in the Correctional Institutions Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On appeal, Lauder’s appointed counsel filed a motion to withdraw, along with a brief, stating that the record presents no reversible error and the appeal is without merit and is frivolous. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396 (1967).

Counsel’s brief meets the Anders requirements by presenting a professional evaluation of the record and supplying us with references to the record and legal authority. 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S. Ct. at 1400; see also High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 812 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978). Counsel indicates that he has thoroughly reviewed the record and is unable to advance any grounds of error that warrant reversal. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; Mitchell v. State, 193 S.W.3d 153, 155 (Tex. App.— Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).

Counsel advised Lauder of his right to access the record and provided him with a form motion for access to the record. Counsel further advised Lauder of his right to file a pro se response to the Anders brief. Lauder did not request access to the record or file a pro se response to counsel’s brief.

We have independently reviewed the entire record in this appeal, and we conclude that no reversible error exists in the record, there are no arguable grounds for review, and the appeal is frivolous. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744 (emphasizing that reviewing court—and not counsel—determines, after full examination of

proceedings, whether appeal is wholly frivolous); Garner v. State, 300 S.W.3d 763, 767 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (reviewing court must determine whether arguable grounds for review exist); Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826–27 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2005) (same); Mitchell, 193 S.W.3d at 155 (reviewing court determines whether arguable grounds exist by reviewing entire record). We note that an appellant may challenge a holding that there are no arguable grounds for appeal by filing a petition for discretionary review in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

See Bledsoe, 178 S.W.3d at 827 & n.6.

We affirm the judgment of the trial court and grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.1 Attorney Jerome Godinich Jr. must immediately send Lauder the required notice and file a copy of the notice with the Clerk of this Court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 6.5(c). We dismiss any pending motions as moot.

PER CURIAM Panel consists of Justices Kelly, Countiss, and Rivas-Molloy.

Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

Appointed counsel still has a duty to inform appellant of the result of this appeal and that he may, on his own, pursue discretionary review in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. See Ex Parte Wilson, 956 S.W.2d 25, 27 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.