Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 2023

James Joshua Griffin v. the State of Texas

James Joshua Griffin v. the State of Texas
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided February 13, 2023

James Joshua Griffin v. the State of Texas

Opinion

Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas February 13, 2023 No. 04-22-00729-CR James Joshua GRIFFIN, Appellant v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee From the 290th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2019CR11589 Honorable Jennifer Pena, Judge Presiding

ORDER Appellant James Joshua Griffin entered into a plea bargain with the State pursuant to which he pleaded no contest to injury to a child. The trial court deferred adjudication of guilt and placed appellant on community supervision. The trial court initially signed a certificate stating this “is a plea-bargain case, but matters were raised by written motion filed and ruled on before trial and not withdrawn or waived, and the defendant has the right of appeal.” See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2). Appellant filed a notice of appeal, and the district clerk filed a copy of the clerk’s record, which includes the trial court’s Rule 25.2(a)(2) certification. See id. R. 25.2(d).

On February 10, 2023, the district clerk filed a copy of a supplemental clerk’s record, which includes a new Rule 25.2(a)(2) certification stating that this “is a plea bargain case, and the defendant has NO right of appeal.” We must dismiss an appeal “if a certification that shows the defendant has the right of appeal has not been made part of the record.” Id. Here, the clerk’s record establishes the punishment assessed by the trial court does not exceed the punishment recommended by the prosecutor and agreed to by the defendant. See id. R. 25.2(a)(2). The record also supports the trial court’s certification that appellant does not have a right to appeal. See Dears v. State, 154 S.W.3d 610 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (holding that court of appeals should review clerk’s record to determine whether trial court’s certification is accurate).

Accordingly, appellant is given notice that this appeal will be dismissed pursuant to Rule 25.2(d) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure unless an amended certification showing that appellant has the right to appeal is made part of the appellate record by March 15, 2023. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d), 37.1; Daniels v. State, 110 S.W.3d 174 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, order), disp. on merits, No. 04-03-00176-CR, 2003 WL 21508347 (July 2, 2003, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication).

We ORDER all appellate deadlines are suspended until further order of the court. We further ORDER the clerk of this court to serve copies of this order on the attorneys of record and the court reporter.

_________________________________ Beth Watkins, Justice

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on this 13th day of February, 2023.

___________________________________ MICHAEL A. CRUZ, Clerk of Court

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