State’s Appellate Manual (2017)

The State’s Appellate Manual is a comprehensive look at the State’s side of criminal appeals. Starting with timelines all the way through motions for rehearing, the manual covers: motions for new trial; notices of appeal; abatement; record on appeal; reply briefs; oral argument; petitions for discretionary review; writs of certiorari; mandamus; and State’s appeals. Editor Alan Curry (Assistant Criminal District Attorney in Galveston County) is a longtime appellate specialist and author of TDCAA’s Charging Manual and Confessions book.

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2024 Penal Code Changes

In its 3^rd Special Session of 2023, the 88^th Legislature passed SB 4, “relating to the punishment for certain criminal conduct involving the smuggling of persons or the operation of a stash house; increasing criminal penalties,” which amended 10 statutes in the Texas Penal Code and enacted one new statute, effective 2/6/24. The changes to those 11 statutes are included in the PDF posted here. The changes will also be incorporated into the next edition of TDCAA’s code books in summer 2025, along with any other changes made in the 89^th Session.

Penal Code SB4 (smuggling) 2024

Stays granted on SB 4 (4^th Special Session):

In its 4^th Special Session of 2023, the 88^th Legislature passed another version of SB 4, “relating to prohibitions on the illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien, the enforcement of those prohibitions and certain related orders, including immunity from liability and indemnification for enforcement actions, and authorizing or requiring under certain circumstances the removal of persons who violate those prohibitions; creating criminal offenses.” This bill enacted a new chapter of the Texas Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure and amended other statutes in the Code of Criminal Procedure and Government Code, effective 3/5/24.

However, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether these new immigration laws can be enforced. Although those laws were set to take effect on March 5, 2024, a federal district judge granted a preliminary injunction against enforcing the provisions of SB 4. The 5^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals then set aside the federal district court’s ruling, and an order issued by Justice Samuel Alito on March 4 has put the laws on hold until 5pm March 13 when the full Supreme Court is expected to weigh in.

Penal Code SB4 (illegal entry) 2024

Appellate Rules & Parole Laws

Because of the continued growth of codes amended by the legislature, the 2021 code books will omit the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure and parole laws (Gov’t Code ch. 508). We will post PDF versions of both, available to download for free here.

TRAP 2023

Parole 2023