Farley Charles Matchett, Appellant v. the State of Texas, Appellee

Summary

The Court affirmed the death sentence, holding that the trial court's failure to give the full Article 26.13 admonitions was harmless, that a guilty plea taken outside the jury's presence satisfied Article 27.13, and that all other alleged errors were without merit. The Court also rejected the appellant's constitutional challenges to the capital sentencing scheme. Justice Clinton dissented, arguing that the procedure was not a true jury trial and that the harmless‑error analysis undermines settled precedent.