Willie Silliman v. the State of Texas

In The
Court of Appeals
Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo

No. 07-25-00044-CR

WILLIE SILLIMAN, APPELLANT

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2
Lubbock County, Texas
Trial Court No. CC-2024-CR-1440, Honorable Tom Brummett, Presiding

August 5, 2025
ORDER OF ABATEMENT AND REMAND
Before QUINN, C.J., and DOSS and YARBROUGH, JJ.

Appellant, Willie Silliman, appeals his conviction for assault family violence1 and

sentence to three hundred and sixty-five days of confinement. Appellant’s brief was

originally due May 23, 2025, but we granted Appellant’s appointed counsel two

extensions to file a brief due to counsel’s caseload. By letter of July 10, 2025, we

admonished Appellant’s counsel that failure to file a brief by July 23 could result in the

1 See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.01(b)(2).
appeal being abated and the cause remanded to the trial court for further proceedings

without further notice. To date, counsel has not filed a brief or had any further

communication with this Court.

Accordingly, we abate the appeal and remand the cause to the trial court for further

proceedings. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(b)(2), (3). Upon remand, the trial court shall

determine the following:

1. whether Appellant still desires to prosecute the appeal;

2. whether Appellant is indigent;

3. why a timely appellate brief has not been filed on behalf of Appellant;

4. whether Appellant’s counsel has abandoned the appeal;

5. whether Appellant has been denied the effective assistance of counsel;

6. whether new counsel should be appointed; and

7. if Appellant desires to continue the appeal, the date the Court may expect

Appellant’s brief to be filed.

The trial court is also directed to enter such orders necessary to address the

aforementioned questions. So too shall it include its findings on those matters in a

supplemental record and cause that record to be filed with this Court by September 4,

2025. If it is determined that Appellant desires to proceed with the appeal, is indigent,

and has been denied the effective assistance of counsel, the trial court may appoint new

counsel; the name, address, email address, phone number, and state bar number of any

newly appointed counsel shall be included in the aforementioned findings.

2
Should Appellant’s counsel file a brief on or before the date the trial court acts per

our directive, he shall immediately notify the trial court of the filing, in writing, whereupon

the trial court shall not be required to take any further action.

It is so ordered.

Per Curiam

Do not publish.

3