Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Rodriguez v. State
No. PD-0439-16 1/10/18
Issue:
Does the submission of an instruction on transferred intent entitle a defendant to an instruction on mistake of fact even if the greater offense does not require any additional culpable mental state?
Holding:
No. A defendant is only entitled to a mistake of fact instruction when the mistake “negates the culpable mental state required for the offense.” Here, the defendant was charged with aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The transferred intent instruction on the extent of the bodily injury (i.e. “simple” bodily injury or “serious” bodily injury) does not entitle the defendant to a mistake of fact instruction because the element of serious bodily injury do not require a culpable mental state. The State is only required to prove a culpable mental state as to the underlying assault. Read opinion.
Hernandez v. State
No. PD-1389-16 1/10/18
Issue:
May a word to be so inflammatory when used in closing argument that error preservation is not required because the word incurably taints the entire trial?
Holding:
No. Even incurably improper jury argument is forfeitable. The right to be free of improper jury argument does not rise to the level of an absolute requirement. If a defendant does not preserve error by objecting to erroneous jury argument, any error is waived. Read opinion.
Texas Attorney General Opinions
KP-0176 12/21/17
Issue:
May handgun license holders carry handguns on the premises of a church that does not post signs excluding handguns? Are churches exempt from the private security fees charged to private institutions?
Response:
Yes and yes. Unless a church provides effective oral or written notice prohibiting handguns on its property, a license holder may carry a handgun on church property as the law otherwise allows.
The regulations of the Private Security Act, including the fees required, do not apply to Texas churches when providing volunteer security services consistent with the requirements of §1702.333 of the Occupations Code. Read opinion.
Announcements
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