Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Ex Parte Charles E. Mines, Applicant

September 13, 20002000 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 82

Summary

The Court held that a death‑sentenced inmate is not required to be mentally competent to assist counsel in filing a habeas corpus petition, finding no statutory or constitutional mandate for such competence and denying the applicant's relief. Justice JOHNSON dissented, arguing that the statute implicitly requires competence and should remand for a competency hearing.