James Francis Reynolds v. the State of Texas
Court
Court of Appeals of Texas
Decided
June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
44%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
Court of Appeals Tenth Appellate District of Texas 10-24-00358-CR James Francis Reynolds, Appellant v. The State of Texas, Appellee On appeal from the 413th District Court of Johnson County, Texas Judge William C. Bosworth Jr., presiding Trial Court Cause No. DC-F202200728 JUSTICE HARRIS delivered the opinion of the Court. MEMORANDUM OPINION James Francis Reynolds pled "not true" to all violations alleged by the State in its first amended motion to revoke Reynolds’ community supervision for the third-degree felony offense of assault family violence by impeding breath. See TEX. PENAL CODE § 22.01(b)(2)(B). After a contested hearing on the motion, the trial court revoked Reynolds' community supervision and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. We affirm the trial court’s judgment. Reynolds’ appointed counsel filed a motion to withdraw and an Anders brief in support of the motion asserting that he has diligently reviewed the appellate record and that, in his opinion, the appeal is frivolous. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967). Counsel's brief evidences a professional evaluation of the record for error and compliance with the other duties of appointed counsel. We conclude that counsel has performed the duties required of appointed counsel. See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 812 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); see also Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d 313, 319-320 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 407 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). In reviewing an Anders appeal, we must, "after a full examination of all the proceedings, ... decide whether the case is wholly frivolous." Anders, 386 U.S. at 744; see Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S. Ct. 346, 102 L. Ed. 2d 300 (1988); accord Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 509-11 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). An appeal is "wholly frivolous" or "without merit" when it "lacks any basis in law or fact." McCoy v. Court of Appeals, 486 U.S. 429, 439 n. 10, 108 S. Ct. 1895, 100 L. Ed. 2d 440 (1988). In our review, we have paid particular attention to the issues identified in appellant’s pro se response to his counsel’s brief in support of the motion to withdraw. After a review of the entire record in this appeal, we have determined the appeal to be wholly frivolous. See Reynolds v. State Page 2 Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 826-27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's judgment. Counsel's motion to withdraw from representation of Reynolds is granted. LEE HARRIS Justice OPINION DELIVERED and FILED: June 18, 2025 Before Chief Justice Johnson, Justice Smith, and Justice Harris Affirmed Motion granted Do Not Publish [CR25] Reynolds v. State Page 3
Case Details
Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
Case Name: James Francis Reynolds v. The State of Texas
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
Date: June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction: SA
In this case, James Francis Reynolds appealed the revocation of his community supervision related to a third-degree felony charge of assault family violence by impeding breath. The trial court had sentenced him to 10 years in prison following a contested hearing on the State's motion to revoke his supervision.
Key Legal Issues
- Revocation of Community Supervision: The primary issue was whether the trial court's decision to revoke Reynolds' community supervision was justified.
- Frivolous Appeal: The appeal raised questions about the merit of the claims made by Reynolds in light of his counsel's Anders brief.
Court's Decision
The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's judgment, concluding that the appeal was wholly frivolous. The court granted the motion for Reynolds' appointed counsel to withdraw from representation.
Legal Reasoning
Justice Harris delivered the opinion of the court, emphasizing the following points:
- The court conducted a thorough examination of the appellate record, adhering to the standards set forth in Anders v. California.
- The appeal was deemed without merit, lacking any basis in law or fact, as defined in McCoy v. Court of Appeals.
- The court also considered Reynolds' pro se response to his counsel's brief, ultimately finding no substantial issues warranting further review.
Key Holdings
- The trial court's decision to revoke community supervision was upheld.
- The appeal was classified as frivolous, leading to the affirmation of the trial court's judgment.
- Counsel's motion to withdraw was granted, indicating the conclusion of legal representation.
Precedents and Citations
- Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967)
- McCoy v. Court of Appeals, 486 U.S. 429 (1988)
- High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978)
- Kelly v. State, 436 S.W.3d 313 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014)
- In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008)
- Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005)
Practical Implications
This case underscores the importance of thorough legal representation and the standards for evaluating the merit of appeals in criminal cases. Legal practitioners should note the following:
- The Anders brief process is critical for appointed counsel to withdraw when an appeal lacks merit.
- The court's affirmation of the trial court's judgment highlights the challenges defendants face when contesting revocation of community supervision.
- This case serves as a reminder of the rigorous standards applied by appellate courts in assessing the validity of claims made by appellants.
Legal professionals should remain vigilant in ensuring that appeals are grounded in substantial legal arguments, as demonstrated in this case.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools