Opinion · Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
State v. Gonzalez
855 S.W.2d 692
- Type
- Opinion
- Court
- Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
- Jurisdiction
- Texas
- Date
- 1993-04-14
- Topic
- general
holding that “the accused is required to allege sufficient grounds to apprise the trial judge and the State as to why he believes himself entitled to a new trial” | holding that whether to grant a new trial lies within the trial court's discretion | holding that whether to grant a new trial lies within the trial court’s discretion | holding that whether to grant a new trial lies within the trial court’s discretion | noting that court of criminal appeals has consistently held that decision on motion for new trial rests within sound discretion of trial court | adding that it is not reviewing court’s place to substitute its judgment for that of trial court but to determine whether its decision was unreasonable or arbitrary | noting that reviewing court “is not to substitute its judgment for that of the trial court, but rather must decide whether the trial court’s decision was arbitrary or unreasonable” | noting that reviewing court "is not to substitute its judgment for that of the trial court, but rather must decide whether the trial court's decision was arbitrary or unreasonable" | stating that a defendant can raise ineffective assistance of counsel by way of a motion for new trial even though that ground was not listed in rule 30(b) [now rule 21.3] | commenting on the purpose of former Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 31(d) | trial judges have had discretion to grant new trials in interest of justice for more than one hundred twenty years | "An appellate court should not fault a trial judge for granting a motion for new trial when the State fails to provide an appellate record establishing an abuse of discretion." | “An appellate court should not fault a trial judge for granting a motion for new trial when the State fails to provide an appellate record establishing an abuse of discretion.” | "Both the granting and the denying of a motion for new trial rest within the discretion of the trial court, and appellate courts ordinarily will not reverse that decision unless the trial court has abused its discretion." | "Both the granting and the denying of a motion for new trial rest within the discretion of the trial court, and appellate courts ordinarily will not reverse that decision unless the trial court has abused its discretion.” | defendant has burden to show operation of statute was unconstitutional as applied to him | we review a trial judge's decision to deny a motion for a new trial for an abuse of discretion | trial court may grant new trial in interest of justice for reason not enumerated in appellate rules | trial court may grant new trial in interest of justice for reason not enumerated in appellate rules | the trial judge’s ruling on a motion for new trial is reviewed on appeal for an abuse of discretion | the trial judge’s ruling on a motion for new trial is reviewed on appeal for an abuse of discretion | we review a trial judge’s decision to deny a motion for a new trial for an abuse of discretion | trial judges have had discretion to grant new trials in interest of justice for more than 120 years | trial judges have had discretion to grant new trials in interest of justice for more than 120 years | trial judges have had discretion to grant new trials in interest of justice for more than one hundred twenty years | when party raises point of error without citation of authorities or argument, nothing is presented for appellate review | “When a party raises a point of error without citation of authorities or argument, nothing is presented for appellate review.” | “When a party raises a point of error without citation of authorities or argument, nothing is presented for appellate review.” | new trial granted “to present witnesses that were not presented at the time of sentencing” | when the State acquired the right to appeal, it also acquired the corresponding duty to provide the appellate court with a record showing error requiring reversal | “Therefore, we hold the accused is required to allege sufficient grounds to
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STATE v. GONZALEZ,855 S.W.2d 692(Tex.Cr.App. 1993)
855 S.W.2d 692
The STATE of Texas v. Rolando GONZALEZ, Appellee.
Nos. 1354-91 to 1356-91.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas,
En Banc.
April 14, 1993.
Rehearing Denied June 16, 1993.
Tom O'Connell, Dist. Atty., and J. Matthew Goeller, Asst. Dist. Atty., McKinney,Page 693Robert Huttash, State's Atty., and Carl E.F. Dally, First Asst. State's Atty., Austin, for the State.
Before the court en banc.
OPINION ON STATE'S PETITIONS FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
I.
The facts, correctly set forth by the Court of Appeals, are as follows:
Appellee Rolando Gonzalez pleaded guilty without the benefit of a plea bargain to three felony cases of delivery of marijuana. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the trial court assessed punishment at three years' confinement in two of the cases and five years' probation in the third case. One week later, Gonzalez filed a motion for new trial in each of the cases. In his motion, Gonzalez requested, 'in the interest of justice,' that he be allowed to present witnesses who were unavailable at the time of the earlier proceeding.
At a hearing on the motion, Gonzales called only one witness — his uncle, who is the chairman for the Commission for Drug and Substance Abuse for the City of Dallas. The witness testified that he was unavailable at the time of the earlier proceeding, and he requested that a new trial be granted so that his testimony could be considered. Although the witness said nothing about the content of his testimony, Gonzalez's lawyer represented that this witness's testimony could have a substantial impact on the court's consideration upon retrial. The State did not cross-examine the witness or controvert his testimony. The State only asked that the court deny the motion. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court granted the motion for new trial. . . .State v. Gonzalez,820 S.W.2d at 10-11.
On direct appeal, the State contended the trial judge erred in granting appellee's motions for new trial which didnotallege one of the grounds enumerated in Tex.R.App.P. 30(b).1The Court of Appeals rejected the State's argument holding:
. . . [A] trial court does not lose its discretionto granta motion for new trial even if a defendant fails to comply prima facie with rule 30(b). The rule's list of circumstances under which the trial court must grant a motion for new trial is not an exclusive one.
More specifically, we conclude that a trial court may, in its discretion, grant a motion for new trial in the interest of justice.State v. Gonzalez,820 S.W.2d at 11-12.
II.
The Collin County District Attorney's sole ground for review and the State Prosecuting Attorney's fourth ground for reviewPage 694contend the trial judge erred in granting the motions for new trial which were based on a ground not specifically enumerated in Rule 30(b).2InReyes v. State,849 S.W.2d 812(Tex.Cr.App. 1993), we addressed a similar contention and held "Rule 30(a) does not limit the grounds under which a motion for new trial may be granted but rather provides the trial judge the general authority to grant such a motion."Id.at 813-14. Furthermore, "[t]he grounds listed in Rule 30(b) are illustrative, not exhaustive; the trial judge has the discretion to consider additional grounds for granting a new trial."Id.at 815 (citingEvans v. State,843 S.W.2d 576(Tex.Cr.App. 1992)). We then held a defendant could raise ineffective assistance of counsel by way of a motion for new trial even though that ground was not listed in Rule 30(b).Id.,at 815.
Likewise, in the instant case, the Court of Appeals held Rule 30(b) did not provide an exclusive list for the granting of a motion for new trial.Gonzalez,820 S.W.2d at 11. The Court of Appeals, citingJohnson v. Fourth Court ofAppeals,700 S.W.2d 916, 918 (Tex. 1985) andChampionInt'l Corp. v. Twelfth Court of Appeals,762 S.W.2d 898, 899 (Tex. 1988), concluded that a trial judge may, in his discretion, grant a motion for new trial in the interest of justice.Gonzalez,820 S.W.2d at 12. The reasoning of the Court of Appeals is sound. For more than one hundred and twenty years, our trial judges have had the discretion to grant new trials in the interest of justice. InMullins v.State,37 Tex. 337, 339-340 (1872-73), the Supreme Court, which at that time had criminal jurisdiction, held:
. . . The discretion of the District Court, in granting new trials, is almost the only protection to the citizen against the illegal or oppressive verdicts of prejudiced, careless, or ignorant juries, and we think the District Court should never hesitate to use that discretion whenever the ends of justice have not been attained by those verdicts.
Accordingly, we hold the trial judge did not err in granting appellee's motions for new trial which were based upon a ground not specifically enumerated in Rule 30(b). The County District Attorney's sole ground for review and the State Prosecuting Attorney's fourth ground for review are overruled.
III.
The State Prosecuting Attorney's first ground of review contends the Court of Appeals erred in holding the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in granting appellee's motions for new trial when appellee failed to allege a factual basis in his motion and failed to offer proof demonstrating the trial judge erred in accepting appellee's guilty pleas.3
Although Tex.R.App.P. 31(a) does not specify what must be alleged in a motion for new trial, Rule 31(b) provides the State "may take issue" with "any reason set forth by the accused in his motion." InReyes,we held either the motion for new trial or its supporting affidavit "must reflect that reasonable grounds exist for holding [a new trial] could be granted."Reyes,849 S.W.2d at 816. Therefore, we hold the accused is required to allege sufficient grounds to apprise the trial judge and the State as to why he believes himselfPage 695entitled to a new trial.Compare, Texas Dept. ofCorrections v. Jackson,661 S.W.2d 154, 156 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1983), citingStone v. Lawyer'sTitle Insurance Corp.,554 S.W.2d 183(Tex. 1977) ("Pleadings should give fair and adequate notice of the facts upon which the pleader relies in order that the adverse party may properly prepare his defense thereto.").
With this holding in mind, we now turn to appellee's motion for new trial wherein he requested a new trial in the interest of justice "to present witnesses that were not presented at the time of sentencing to testify on behalf of Defendant." The State didnottake issue with any reason set forth in the motions.See,Rule 31(b). Indeed, appellee contends the State has waived this ground of review for failing to object in the trial court. App.'s brief pg. 8. We need not address the waiver issue because we find appellee's motions were sufficient to notify the trial judge and the State as to why appellee sought a new trial.
At the hearing on his motions, appellee presented one witness. The witness, who was the chairman of the Commission for Drug and Substance Abuse for the City of Dallas and on the board of directors of Dallas Helps, an organization organized to eradicate drug and substance abuse in the Dallas area, testified he was not available to testify at the sentencing hearing. The witness asked the trial judge to grant a new trial so his testimony could be considered. The State, although offered the opportunity, elected not to cross-examine the witness or otherwise controvert the witness's testimony. At the conclusion of the hearing, appellee's attorney argued the testimony "could have a substantial impact on the Court's considerations regarding punishment;" however, the State merely requested that the motion be denied. The trial judge ruled: "Well, beinguncontroverted by the Statethat this witness was unavailable, then the motion for new trial is granted." (Emphasis added.) The Court of Appeals held: "[b]y relying on the record before it, the trial judge did not abuse its discretion in concluding that a new trial should be granted in the interest of justice."Gonzalez,820 S.W.2d at 12.
We agree with the Court of Appeals. When the State acquired the right to appeal under Tex. Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art.44.01(a)(3), the State acquired the corresponding duty to provide the appellate court a record subject to meaningful appellate review.Trevino v. State,565 S.W.2d 938, 941 (Tex.Cr.App. 1978) ("[T]he hearing on [a motion for new trial] is for the purpose of deciding whether the cause shall be retried . . . and to prepare a record for presenting issues on appeal in the event the motion is denied."). When a motion for new trial raises matters not determinable from the record, the trial judge abuses his discretion in failing to hold a hearing pursuant to Rule 31(d).Reyes,849 S.W.2d at 816. The hearing requirement provides either party an opportunity to develop a record for appellate review, should either party elect to appeal the decision on the motion for new trial.
As previously noted, the State elected not to cross-examine or otherwise controvert the testimony of the witness who testified in support of the motion for new trial. However, the State now complains the record is insufficient to support the trial judge's decision. The trial judge specifically found the motions for new trial were "uncontroverted by the State" and the Court of Appeals held the record did not establish an abuse of discretion.4An appellate court should not fault a trial judge for granting a motion for new trial when the State fails to provide an appellate record establishing an abuse of discretion.Simon v. York Crane Rigging Company,Inc.,739 S.W.2d 793, 795 (Tex. 1987) ("[T]hePage 696party that complains of abuse of discretion has the burden to bring forth a record showing such abuse."). Accordingly, the State Prosecuting Attorney's first ground for review is overruled.
IV.
The State Prosecuting Attorney's second and third grounds for review contend the Court of Appeals' holding has rendered the State's right to appeal meaningless.5To address these grounds we must first determine what standard of appellate review should be applied when the trial judge grants a motion for new trial and the State appeals that decision under art. 44.01(a)(3).
In the instant case the Court of Appeals applied the abuse of discretion standard of appellate review.
. . . It is well established that the granting or denying of a motion for new trial lies within the sound discretion of the trial court.Applemanv. State,531 S.W.2d 806, 810 (Tex.Cr.App. 1975);Fielding v. State,719 S.W.2d 361, 364 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1986. pet. ref'd). This principle, as applied to criminal cases, has been scrutinized exclusively in cases in which the trial court denied a motion for new trial because the State only recently attained the statutory right to appeal the granting of a motion for new trial. . . .
* * * * * *
Both the granting and the denying of a motion for new trial rest within the discretion of the trial court, and appellate courts ordinarily will not reverse that decision unless the trial court has abused its discretion. [Fielding,719 S.W.2d at 364.]Gonzalez,820 S.W.2d at 11.
Again, we agree with the Court of Appeals. We have consistently held "[t]he decision on a motion for new trial rests within the sound discretion of the trial court, and in the absence of an abuse of discretion this [C]ourt would not be justified in reversing the judgment."Grizzell v.State,164 Tex.Crim. 362,298 S.W.2d 816, 821 (1956);Bryan v. State,406 S.W.2d 210, 216 (Tex.Cr.App. 1966);Hill v. State,480 S.W.2d 670, 673 (Tex.Cr.App. 1972);Etter v. State,679 S.W.2d 511, 515 (Tex.Cr.App. 1984). While this standard of review has been applied only to the denial of a motion for new trial, we see no need to adopt another standard today merely because the State has acquired the right to appeal Therefore, we hold that abuse of discretion is the proper standard of appellate review under art. 44.01(a)(3).
With that holding in mind, we now turn to the State's contention that the abuse of discretion standard renders the State's right to appeal meaningless. We have utilized this standard of review for more than forty years to provide meaningful appellate review of decisions on motions for new trial.Wiley v. State,153 Tex.Crim. 432,220 S.W.2d 657, 659 (1949);Beck v. State,573 S.W.2d 786, 791 (Tex.Cr.App. 1978);Kashfi v. State,703 S.W.2d 312, 315 (Tex.App. — Waco 1985). The doctrine ofstaredecisisrequires a compelling reason to change an accepted standard of review.Gearheart v. State,81 Tex.Crim. 540,197 S.W. 187, 188-189 (Tex.Cr.App. 1917) ("[W]hen a rule has been once deliberately adopted and declared and uniformly followed, it should not be abandoned except upon the most urgent reasons.").See also, Ex parte Porter,827 S.W.2d 324, 328-331 (Tex.Cr.App. 1992) (Baird, J., dissenting). As the State has failed to present a compelling reason to abandon the abuse of discretionPage 697standard of appellate review under art. 44.01(a)(3), the State's second and third grounds of review are overruled.
V.
In its fifth ground for review the State Prosecuting Attorney contends the Court of Appeals erred in overrulling the second point of error for failure to comply with Tex.R.App.P. 74(f).6Gonzalez,820 S.W.2d 9at 12.
Tex.R.App.P. 74(f) provides, in part:
(f) Argument . . . The argument shall include: (1) a fair, condensed statement of the facts pertinent to such points, with reference to pages in the record where the same may be found; and (2) such discussion of the facts and the authorities relied upon as may be requisite to maintain the point at issue. . . .
The State's brief on direct appeal raised a second point of error, but offered no argument or authority in support of that point. Therefore, the point did not comply with Rule 74(f). When a party raises a point of error without citation of authorities or argument, nothing is presented for appellate review.Woods v. State,569 S.W.2d 901, 905 (Tex.Cr.App. 1978);McWherter v. State,607 S.W.2d 531, 536 (Tex.Cr.App. 1980). The Court of Appeals correctly overruled the second point of error. Accordingly, the State's fifth ground for review is overruled.
The judgment of the Court of Appeals is affirmed.
CLINTON, J., concurs in the result.
The Court of Appeals held the list set out in Rule 30(b) is not exhaustive and that the movant for a motion for new trial was not required to aver a prima facie case for a trial court to grant the motion. The Court of Appeals stated,
AsJonesillustrates, a trial court does not lose its discretionto denya motion for new trial even if a defendant complies prima facie with rule 30(b). WePage 698
hold, as a corollary, that a trial court does not lose its discretionto granta motion for new trial even if a defendant fails to comply with rule 30(b). The rule's list of circumstances under which the trial court must grant a motion for new trial is not an exclusive one.
Majority opinion at 694-695.
I believe the Court of Appeals reasoning is sound and therefore would decide this issue based onJones.Furthermore, I believe there is no need to determine whether this is a new ground not enumerated within Rule 30(b). The evidence indicates sufficiently that the real issue before the trial judge was the "new evidence" presented concerning the assessment of punishment. Rule 30(b)(6). Presently it is unclear whether a trial court has the power to grant a new trial for sentencing only or must grant a complete new trial.Bates v. State,833 S.W.2d 643(Tex.App. — Eastland 1992, pet. granted). Since appellant plead guilty and the only determination left was sentencing, I believe the only prudent course remaining for this trial judge was to grant a new trial.
While I agree with the dissent's view "that motions for new trial should be viewed with great caution, and that they should not be granted lightly," I am equally convinced that when a trial court grants such a motion, the decision should be viewed with great deference. In this case, appellant plead guilty to three felonies. The pleas were accepted absent any plea agreement with the State. Accordingly, the trial judge was left without any guidance for sentencing. If upon hearing evidence during a motion for new trial that trial judge is presented with a competent or expert witness who would have presented "new evidence" that would have assisted in the assessment of punishment the trial judge, should, within the prescriptions of the law, be permitted to adjust the sentencing.
Additionally, I consider the focus by both the majority and dissent on the sufficiency of the evidence for a grant of a new trial as misplaced. The Court of Appeals determined as a factual matter that the evidence was sufficient. Once this Court determines this is "new evidence" as contemplated under Rule 30(b)(6) or that the list contained in Rule 30(b) is not exhaustive, we are bound by that factual decision.Arcilav. State,834 S.W.2d 357(Tex.Crim.App. 1992). I would only conduct a review of whether the Court of Appeals used the correct legal standard, and upon finding they did, accept their factual finding as binding upon our Court.
Accordingly, I concur in the result of the court.
InEvans v. State,843 S.W.2d 576(Tex.Cr.App. 1992), we recognized that the grounds enunciated in Rule 30(b), Tex.R.App.Pro., were not exhaustive. We did not, however, intimate that the factual proof to support an alleged ground for new trial was in any way altered by the promulgation of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. In the case at bar, as Judge Campbell ably demonstrates in his dissenting opinion, there is nothing in this record showing what evidence would have been presented to support the granting of a new trial. To such a drastic departure from settled precedent, I dissent.
Where a motion for new trial is made based on previously unpresented evidence, the law has always required a showing of what the unpresented testimony would have been. See, e.g.,Willis v. State,626 S.W.2d 500(Tex.Cr.App. 1979). If the motion for new trial asserts facts which are not in the record but would necessitate aPage 699new trial, the burden is on the defendant to establish the truth of the averments. 25 Tex.Jur.3d — Criminal Law, Sections 3553-3568.
Today the majority effectively repeals the 1987 constitutional amendment and establishes a road map whereby trial courts may, without factual or legal basis, grant a new trial and avoid review.
To such action, I also dissent.
Appellee's motion for new trial stated in relevant part:
Defendant requests that he be allowed to present witnesses that were not available to testify previously. It is in the interest of justice for Defendant to present witnesses that were not presented at the time of sentencing to testify on behalf of Defendant.
At the hearing on appellee's motion, appellee called a single witness, his uncle. His uncle testified that he was chairman of the Dallas Commission for Drug and Substance Abuse; that he had been unavailable to testify at the earlier proceeding; and that he wished to testify at a new trial.Appellee's unclesaid nothing about the content of his proposed testimony at anew trial,although defense counsel did explain to the trial court that the proposed testimony "could have a substantial impact on the court's considerations regarding punishment." The State did not cross-examine appellee's uncle or otherwise controvert his assertion that he had been unavailable to testify at the earlier proceeding. The State only asked the trial court to deny the motion. As noted previously, the trial court granted the motion.
The State now argues,inter alia,that appellee did not establish a right to a new trial under any of the grounds listed in Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 30(b); that the "interest of justice" is not a ground listed in Rule 30(b) and is not, therefore, a lawful ground on which a trial judge may base the granting of a new trial; and that even if the "interest of justice" were a lawful ground, appellee failed, as a matter of law, to present sufficient evidence to establish the right to a new trial under that ground.
I have no quarrel with the majority's holding that the grounds for a new trial listed in Rule 30(b) are not exclusive. SeeState v. Evans,843 S.W.2d 576, 578-579 (Tex.Cr.App. 1992). Nor do I dispute the notion that, under appropriate circumstances, a new trial may be granted in the interest of justice. I find unacceptable, however, the majority's failure to explainhowa defendant may carry his burden of establishing that granting him a new trial is actuallyinthe interest of justice. I also find unacceptable the majority's implicit conclusion that, in this case, appellee carried his burden.
Once a defendant has had his day in court, and has been fairly tried, there is a proper reluctance to give him a second trial. It is elementary, therefore, that motions for new trial should be viewed with great caution, and that they should not toPage 700be granted lightly. It is equally elementary that a defendant carries the heavy burden of showingwith evidencethat he is entitled to a new trial on some cognizable ground.King v. State,502 S.W.2d 795, 800 (Tex.Cr.App. 1973). Additionally, one would have thought it obvious that a trial court may not grant a motion for new trial under the "interest of justice" standard unless the defendant shows that there might otherwise be a genuine miscarriage of justice. See 3 C. Wright,Federal Practice and Procedure: CriminalSec. 551 (1982) (discussing federal case law utilizing the "interests of justice" standard under Fed.R.Crim.Proc. 33); 23A C.J.S.Criminal LawSec. 1428 (1989) (discussing case law from various jurisdictions utilizing the "interests of justice" standard).
Here, appellee presented no evidence whatsoever in the trial court establishing that a new trial was necessary to prevent a genuine miscarriage of justice. For all anyone knows, his uncle's testimony at a new trial may be only marginally relevant, or even completely irrelevant, to the trial court's assessment of punishment.
Finally, I note that the majority has failed to explain away our prior case law holding that a motion for new trial based on an absent witness is properly denied where, as here, there is no evidence presented as to what the witness' testimony would have been.Webb v. State,460 S.W.2d 903, 905 (Tex.Cr.App. 1970);Kingham v. State,374 S.W.2d 438, 440 (Tex.Cr.App. 1964). In my view, these precedents are dispositive of the instant case.
Because appellee presented no evidence in the trial court as to the nature of his uncle's proposed testimony, I believe the trial court abused its discretion in granting his motion for new trial. I would reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and direct the trial court to vacate its order granting a new trial.
McCORMICK, P.J., and WHITE, J., join.
- The State's first point of error stated:
The trial court abused its discretion and committed error in granting the appellee's motion for new trial when the evidence proffered did not fall under any statutory grounds for new trials in criminal cases, Rule 30, Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
The State's second point of error stated:By pleading guilty to all 3 indictments of delivery of marijuana, defendant advised the court that he had no defense to the charges, thus, his motion for new trial based upon newly discovered evidence is inconsistent with his plea of guilty.
↩ - The Collin County District Attorney's sole ground for review states:
The Court of Appeals erred by expanding and adding a new category for new trials under Tex.R.App.P. 30(b).
The State Prosecuting Attorney's fourth ground for review states:The Fifth Court of Appeals' panel has erred in a published opinion in holding that a motion for new trial may be granted 'in the interest of justice' when that is not one of the nine grounds for granting a new trial set out in Rule 30(b), Rules of Appellate Procedure.
↩ - The State Prosecuting Attorney's first ground for review states:
The Fifth Court of Appeals' panel has erred in apublishedopinion holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting appellee a new trial in the interest of justice, when the appellant in his motion for new trial alleged no facts, and on the hearing of the motion, offered proof of no facts to show that the trial court unjustly accepted his guilty pleas to the offenses with which he was charged.
↩ - InCantu v. State,842 S.W.2d 667, 682 (Tex.Cr.App. 1992), we discussed the abuse of discretion standard and held that under such a standard, we will reverse "only when the trial judge's decision was so clearly wrong as to lie outside that zone within which reasonable persons might disagree." Stated another way, "the appellate court is not to substitute its judgment for that of the trial court, but rather must decide whether the trial court's decision was arbitrary or unreasonable."Landry v. Travelers Insurance Company,458 S.W.2d 649, 651 (Tex. 1970). ↩
- The State Prosecuting Attorney's second and third grounds for review state:
The Fifth Court of Appeals' panel has erred in apublishedopinion in holding that the trial court has absolute, unfettered discretion in granting a motion for new trial, and it has rendered the State's right to appeal an order granting a new trial meaningless because it has neither set nor followed any standard for determining abuse of discretion.
The Fifth Court of Appeals' panel has erred in apublishedopinion in holding for the first time that a trial court's decision to grant a motion for new trial is virtually immune from review, injecting a new, confusing precedent into the State's jurisprudence which appears to conflict with prior case law.
↩ - The State Prosecuting Attorney's fifth ground for review states:
The Fifth Court of Appeals' panel has erred in apublishedopinion in refusing to consider the State's point of error asserting that the trial courts granting of the appellee's motion for new trial was inconsistent with his earlier plea of guilty.
↩ - AlthoughJonesis a pre-rule case, it appears that at the present time the prima facie requirements set out inJonesmay still be applicable where a defendant makes a motion for new trial based on "new evidence."Ramirez v. State,830 S.W.2d 827, 828 (Tex.App. — Corpus Christi 1992, no pet.);Martinez v.State,824 S.W.2d 688, 692 (Tex.App. — El Paso 1992, pet. refused);Alford v. State,807 S.W.2d 840(Tex.App. — Waco 1991, no pet.). ↩
- Both the Collin County District Attorney and the State Prosecuting Attorney filed petitions for discretionary review. ↩