Assume lawyers are representing a client in an Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure post‑conviction writ. A contract was signed providing for a fee of $20,000 for a writ investigation plus expenses and an additional $10,000 fee was to be paid for the preparation and filing of a writ. The investigation fee has been paid including expenses. The fee for preparing and filing of a writ has not been paid. Client and lawyers cannot agree on the basis for a writ. Lawyers believe the best issue to proceed on is the failure to call witnesses in the punishment phase of trial. Client wants to claim actual innocence. Lawyers’ opinion is that there is no evidentiary basis for the claim of actual innocence.
Question number 1: Are the lawyers obligated to file a writ when they have not been paid to do so?
Question number 2: Are the lawyers obligated to file a writ claiming actual innocence if, in their opinion, there is no evidentiary basis for the claim of actual innocence?
Answer 1 provided by attorney Joe A. Connors, III.:
Q. 1: No. Client is entitled to the fruits of the investigation, which has been paid for, and a formal letter of withdrawal.
Q. 2: No. Client is entitled to a written discussion detailing why the attorneys will not pursue an actual innocence claim. Ineffective assistance of counsel for the “failure to call witnesses” requires a sworn statement from the witness detailing what the witness would have said plus compliance with both prongs of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). Of course, there is a duty to obtain a statement from the trial defense counsel on why they did not call that witness.
Answer 2 provided by attorney Laura Popps:
Although the client has a say in the overall objectives of a case, it is the lawyer who assumes responsibility for the legal tactics and strategies in reaching those objectives. Moreover, a lawyer is violating the disciplinary rules if he files a frivolous legal pleading or one with no basis in fact/law. If the client and lawyer cannot agree on this issue, it may be appropriate for the lawyer to withdraw.
Further, a lawyer has a right to be paid according to his agreement with the client. If the client refuses to abide by that agreement and pay the lawyer for his services, it may be appropriate to withdraw.
See Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 (b)(4) & (5), as well as comment 7.
The author would like to send a special thanks to Betty Blackwell, Sharon Bass, Laura Popps, Joe Connors, and Bobby Mims.
