31.1. Filing the Record and Briefs
When written notice of appeal from a judgment or order in a habeas corpus or bail proceeding is filed, the trial court clerk must prepare and certify the clerk’s record and, if the appellant requests, the court reporter must prepare and certify a reporter’s record. The clerk must send the clerk’s record and the court reporter must send the reporter’s record to the appellate court within 15 days after the notice of appeal is filed. On reasonable explanation, the appellate court may shorten or extend the time to file the records.
(a) For an appeal from a habeas corpus proceeding challenging a conviction or an order placing the defendant on community supervision—but not challenging any particular condition of community supervision—the appellate court should use the same briefing rules, deadlines, and schedule that apply to direct appeals from criminal cases. On motion of any party, or on its own initiative, the appellate court may impose a more expedited timeline or submit the case without briefing, if necessary to do substantial justice to the parties.
(b) For an appeal from a bail proceeding or any other habeas corpus proceeding, including one that challenges a particular condition of community supervision, the court will—if it desires briefs—set the time for filing briefs.
31.2. Submission; Hearing
The applicant need not personally appear. The appellate court will not review any incidental question that might have arisen on the hearing of the application before the trial court. The sole purpose of the appeal is to do substantial justice to the parties.
(a) In an appeal from a habeas corpus proceeding challenging a conviction or an order placing the defendant on community supervision— but not challenging a particular condition of community supervision—the appellate court should use the same submission and hearing schedules that apply to direct appeals from criminal cases. On motion of any party, or on its own initiative, the appellate court may impose a more expedited timeline or submit the case without briefing, if necessary to do substantial justice to the parties.
(b) An appeal in any other habeas corpus or bail proceeding, including a challenge to a particular condition of community supervision, shall be submitted and heard at the earliest practicable time.
31.3. Orders on Appeal
The appellate court will render whatever judgment and make whatever orders the law and the nature of the case require. The court may make an appropriate order relating to costs, whether allowing costs and fixing the amount, or allowing no costs.
31.4. Stay of Mandate
(a) When Motion for Stay Required. Despite Rule 18 or any other of these rules, in the following circumstances a party who in good faith intends to seek discretionary review must — within 15 days after the court of appeals renders judgment — file with the court of appeals clerk a motion for stay of mandate, to which is appended the party’s petition for discretionary review showing reasons why the Court of Criminal Appeals should review the appellate court judgment:
(1) when a court of appeals affirms the judgment of the trial court in an extradition matter and thereby sanctions a defendant’s extradition; or
(2) when a court of appeals reverses the trial court’s judgment in a bail matter — including bail pending appeal under Code of Criminal Procedure article 44.04(g) — and thereby grants or reduces the amount of bail.
(b) Determination of the Motion. The clerk must promptly submit the motion and appendix to the court of appeals, or to one or more judges as the court deems appropriate, for immediate consideration and determination.
(1) If the motion for stay is granted, the clerk will immediately forward the petition for discretionary review to the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals.
(2) If the motion is denied, the clerk will issue a mandate in accordance with the court of appeals’ judgment.
(c) Denial of Stay. If the motion for stay is denied under 31.4(b)(2), the losing party may then present the motion and appendix to the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals, who will promptly submit them to the Court, or to one or more judges as the Court deems appropriate, for immediate consideration and determination. The Court of Criminal Appeals may deny the motion or stay or recall the mandate. If the mandate is stayed or recalled, the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals will file the petition for discretionary review and process the case in accordance with Rule 68.7.
31.5. Judgment Conclusive
The court of appeals’ judgment is final and conclusive if the Court of Criminal Appeals does not grant discretionary review. If the Court of Criminal Appeals grants discretionary review, that court’s judgment is final and conclusive. In either case, no further application in the same case can be made for the writ unless the law provides otherwise.
31.6. Defendant Detained by Other Than Officer
If the defendant is held by a person other than an officer, the sheriff receiving the appellate court mandate so ordering must immediately cause the defendant to be discharged, for which discharge the mandate is sufficient authority.
31.7. Judgment to be Certified
The appellate court clerk will certify the court’s judgment to the officer holding the defendant in custody or, if the defendant is held by a person other than an officer, to the appropriate sheriff.
Notes and Comments
Comment to 1997 change: This is former Rule 44. Since the purpose of the appeal is to do substantial justice, it is extended to both parties in recognition that both parties now have the right to appeal. Other nonsubstantive changes are made.