William Louis White v. Putnam Kaye Reiter, Judge, 87th Judicial District Court of Freestone County

Summary

The Court granted William Louis White’s habeas corpus petition, finding his confinement for contempt unlawful because no written order authorized it, and issued a writ of mandamus compelling the trial court to reconsider the conflict‑of‑interest issue raised by White’s motion to withdraw as appointed counsel for Richard P. Stone and to enter new de novo findings. The Court held that no adequate alternative remedy exists and that the trial court must address the constitutional conflict‑of‑interest claim. A concurrence expressed concern about the resources consumed by the litigation.