Tex. Gov't Code § 78.054 · Subchapter B. OFFICE OF CAPITAL AND FORENSIC WRITS
POWERS AND DUTIES.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) The office may not accept an appointment under Article 11.071, Code of Criminal Procedure, if:
(1) a conflict of interest exists;
(2) the office has insufficient resources to provide adequate representation for the defendant;
(3) the office is incapable of providing representation for the defendant in accordance with the rules of professional conduct; or
(4) other good cause is shown for not accepting the appointment.
(b) The office may not represent a defendant in a federal habeas review. The office may not represent a defendant in an action or proceeding in state court other than an action or proceeding that:
(1) is conducted under Article 11.071, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(2) is collateral to the preparation of an application under Article 11.071, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(3) concerns any other post-conviction matter in a death penalty case other than a direct appeal, including an action or proceeding under Article 46.05 or Chapter 64, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
(4) is conducted under Article 11.073, Code of Criminal Procedure, or is collateral to the preparation of an application under Article 11.073, Code of Criminal Procedure, if the case was referred in writing to the office by the Texas Forensic Science Commission under Section 4(h), Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(c) Notwithstanding Article 26.04(p), Code of Criminal Procedure, the office may independently investigate the financial condition of any person the office is appointed to represent. The office shall report the results of the investigation to the appointing judge. The judge may hold a hearing to determine if the person is indigent and entitled to representation under this section.
(d) The office may consult with law school clinics with applicable knowledge and experience and with other experts as necessary to investigate the facts of a particular case.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 781 (S.B. 1091), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1215 (S.B. 1743), Sec. 20, eff. September 1, 2015.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.78.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 2e6c25c8d394aac3879f49c3ac1b6786663169d2ef6240cc22a94ac69f1d5998
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.071PROCEDURE IN DEATH PENALTY CASEPrinted as Article 11.071, Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.073PROCEDURE RELATED TO CERTAIN SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE.Printed as Article 11.073, Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.04PROCEDURES FOR APPOINTING COUNSEL.Printed as Article 26.04(p), Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 38.01TEXAS FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMISSIONPrinted as Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. ch. 64MOTION FOR FORENSIC DNA TESTINGPrinted as Chapter 64, Code of Criminal Procedure
Cited by 3 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Gov't Code § 78.054. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Code of Criminal Procedure
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.