James Lewis McGruder v. the State of Texas

In The
Court of Appeals
Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo

No. 07-24-00413-CR

JAMES LEWIS MCGRUDER, APPELLANT

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

On Appeal from the 100th District Court
Childress County, Texas
Trial Court No. 6939, Counts I, II, III, IV & V; Honorable Ron Enns, Presiding

July 28, 2025
ABATE AND REMAND
Before QUINN, C.J., and PARKER and YARBROUGH, JJ.

Appellant, James Lewis McGruder, appeals his convictions for assault, 1 three

counts of burglary, 2 and aggravated assault. 3 We previously remanded this cause to

determine whether the court reporter failed to transcribe multiple bench conferences held

during trial. On remand, the trial court found that although Appellant had properly

1 See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.01.

2 See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 30.02.

3 See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.02.
requested the reporter to record the bench conferences, the reporter’s record incorrectly

indicated that the conferences were held “off the record.” Consequently, the trial court

ordered the reporter to file a supplemental reporter’s record that included the missing

transcriptions. A supplemental reporter’s record was later filed, but it reflected that

several bench conferences were “inaudible.”

Now pending before the Court is Appellant’s “Agreed Motion to Abate and Remand

to Supplement Inaudible Portions of Supplemental Reporter’s Record.” In the unopposed

motion, Appellant requests that we again remand the cause so the trial court can

determine whether the “inaudible” portions of the record can be replaced by agreement

of the parties pursuant to Rule of Appellate Procedure 34.6.

We grant Appellant’s motion, abate the appeal, and remand the cause to the trial

court for further proceedings. On remand, the trial court shall determine the following:

(1) whether, without Appellant’s fault, a significant portion of the court
reporter’s notes and records have been lost or destroyed or whether
a significant portion of the electronic recording is inaudible;

(2) whether the lost, destroyed, or inaudible portion of the reporter’s
record is necessary to the appeal’s resolution; and

(3) whether the lost, destroyed, or inaudible portion of the reporter’s
record can be replaced by agreement of the parties.

See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.6(f).

The trial court shall conduct any hearings it deems necessary to address

the aforementioned questions and afford the parties reasonable notice of same. If

any such hearing is conducted, the trial court shall cause it to be recorded,

transcribed, and filed with the clerk of this court by September 2, 2025. So too shall

the trial court issue written findings of fact and conclusions of law addressing each

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of the foregoing questions. If the trial court determines that the lost, destroyed, or

inaudible portion of the record can be replaced by agreement of the parties, the

replaced portions shall be included in findings of the court. All findings shall be

included in a supplemental clerk’s record filed with the clerk of this court by

September 2, 2025. Should the trial court need an extension of the September 2nd

deadline, in must request one from the court on or before September 2, 2025

All appellate deadlines, including the present deadline to file Appellant’s

brief, are hereby suspended pending further order of this court.

It is so ordered.

Per Curiam

Do not publish.

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