68.1. Generally
On petition by any party, the Court of Criminal Appeals may review a court of appeals’ decision in a criminal case.
68.2. Time to File Petition
(a) First Petition. The petition must be filed within 30 days after either the day the court of appeals’ judgment was rendered or the day the last timely motion for rehearing or timely motion for en banc reconsideration was overruled by the court of appeals.
(b) Subsequent Petition. Even if the time specified in (a) has expired, a party who otherwise may file a petition may do so within 10 days after the timely filing of another party’s petition.
(c) Extension of Time. The Court of Criminal Appeals may extend the time to file a petition for discretionary review if a party files a motion complying with Rule 10.5(b) no later than 15 days after the last day for filing the petition. The Court of Criminal Appeals may extend the time to file a response or reply if a party files a motion complying with Rule 10.5(b) either before or after the response or reply is due.
Notes and Comments
Comment to 2011 change: The amendment to Rule 68.2(a) resolves timely filing questions concerning motions for en banc reconsideration by including those motions in calculating time to file.
68.3. Where to File Petition
(a) The petition and all copies of the petition must be filed with the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals.
(b) Petition Filed in Court of Appeals. If a petition is mistakenly filed in the court of appeals, the petition is deemed to have been filed the same day with the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals, and the court of appeals clerk must immediately send the petition to the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Notes and Comments
Comment to 2011 change: Rule 68.3 is changed to require petitions for discretionary review to be filed in the Court of Criminal Appeals rather than in the court of appeals. With the deletion of Rule 50, there is no reason to file petitions in the court of appeals. Rule 68.3(b) is added to address and prevent the untimely filing of petitions for discretionary review that are incorrectly filed in the court of appeals rather than in the Court of Criminal Appeals.
68.4. Contents of Petition
A petition for discretionary review must be as brief as possible. It must be addressed to the “Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas” and must state the name of the party or parties applying for review. The petition must contain the following items:
(a) Identity of Judge, Parties, and Counsel. The petition must list the trial court judge, all parties to the judgment or order appealed from, and the names and addresses of all trial and appellate counsel.
(b) Table of Contents. The petition must include a table of contents with references to the pages of the petition. The table of contents must indicate the subject matter of each ground or question presented for review.
(c) Index of Authorities. The petition must include an index of authorities arranged alphabetically and indicating the pages of the petition where the authorities are cited.
(d) Statement Regarding Oral Argument. The petition must include a short statement of why oral argument would be helpful, or a statement that oral argument is waived. If a reply or cross-petition is filed, it likewise must include a statement of why oral argument should or should not be heard.
(e) Statement of the Case. The petition must state briefly the nature of the case. This statement should seldom exceed half a page. The details of the case should be reserved and stated with the pertinent grounds or questions.
(f) Statement of Procedural History. The petition must state:
(1) the date any opinion of the court of appeals was handed down, or the date of any order of the court of appeals disposing of the case without an opinion;
(2) the date any motion for rehearing was filed (or a statement that none was filed); and
(3) the date the motion for rehearing was overruled or otherwise disposed of.
(g) Grounds for Review. The petition must state briefly, without argument, the grounds on which the petition is based. The grounds must be separately numbered. If the petitioner has access to the record, the petitioner must (after each ground) refer to the page of the record where the matter complained of is found. Instead of listing grounds for review, the petition may contain the questions presented for review, expressed in the terms and circumstances of the case but without unnecessary detail. The statement of questions should be short and concise, not argumentative or repetitious.
(h) Argument. The petition must contain a direct and concise argument, with supporting authorities, amplifying the reasons for granting review. See Rule 66.3. The court of appeals’ opinions will be considered with the petition, and statements in those opinions need not be repeated if counsel accepts them as correct.
(i) Prayer for Relief. The petition must state clearly the nature of the relief sought.
(j) Appendix. The petition must contain a copy of any opinion of the court of appeals.
68.5. Deleted
68.6. Nonconforming Petition
The Court may strike, order redrawn, or summarily refuse a petition for discretionary review that is unnecessarily lengthy or that does not conform to these rules.
68.7. Court of Appeals Clerk’s Duties
Within 15 days of receiving notice of the filing of a petition for discretionary review from the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals, the clerk of the court of appeals must send to the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals the record, any motions filed in the case, and copies of any judgments, opinions, and orders of the court of appeals. The clerk need not forward any nondocumentary exhibits unless ordered to do so by the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Notes and Comments
Comment to 2011 change: Rule 68.7(a) and (b) are deleted and (c) is amended to reflect changes consistent with filing the petition and reply in the Court of Criminal Appeals rather than in the court of appeals, and to order the record to be sent to the Court of Criminal Appeals. Additionally, Rule 68.7(c) is amended to delete reference to Rule 50, which is abolished.
68.8. Court of Criminal Appeals Clerk’s Duties
Upon receipt of the record from the court of appeals, the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals will file the record and enter the filing on the docket.
Notes and Comments
Comment to 2011 change: Rule 68.8 is amended to reflect changes consistent with filing the petition in the Court of Criminal Appeals.
68.9 Reply.
The opposing party has 15 days after the timely filing of the petition in the Court of Criminal Appeals to file a reply to the petition with the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Notes and Comments
Comment to 2011 change. This Rule is added so that any reply will be filed in the Court of Criminal Appeals since the petition is also filed in the Court of Criminal Appeals.
68.10. Amendment
Upon motion the petition or a reply may be amended or supplemented at any time justice requires.
Notes and Comments
Comment to 2011 change: This Rule is changed to reflect the filing of the petition and any reply in the Court of Criminal Appeals. Thus, the rule is also changed to require a motion and to delete a time frame because the petition will be filed in the Court of Criminal Appeals.