Sec. 6. ISSUANCE OF WRIT. (a) If a timely application for a writ of habeas corpus is filed in the convicting court, a writ of habeas corpus, returnable to the court of criminal appeals, shall issue by operation of law.
(b) If the convicting court receives notice that the requirements of Section 5 for consideration of a subsequent application have been met, a writ of habeas corpus, returnable to the court of criminal appeals, shall issue by operation of law.
(b-1) If the convicting court receives notice that the requirements of Section 5(a) for consideration of a subsequent application have been met and if the applicant has not elected to proceed pro se and is not represented by retained counsel, the convicting court shall appoint, in order of priority:
(1) the attorney who represented the applicant in the proceedings under Section 5, if the attorney seeks the appointment;
(2) the office of capital and forensic writs, if the office represented the applicant in the proceedings under Section 5 or otherwise accepts the appointment; or
(3) counsel from a list of competent counsel maintained by the presiding judges of the administrative judicial regions under Section 78.056, Government Code, if the office of capital and forensic writs:
(A) did not represent the applicant as described by Subdivision (2); or
(B) does not accept or is prohibited from accepting the appointment under Section 78.054, Government Code.
(b-2) Regardless of whether the subsequent application is ultimately dismissed, compensation and reimbursement of expenses for counsel appointed under Subsection (b-1) shall be provided as described by Section 2, 2A, or 3, including compensation for time previously spent and reimbursement of expenses previously incurred with respect to the subsequent application.
(c) The clerk of the convicting court shall:
(1) make an appropriate notation that a writ of habeas corpus was issued;
(2) assign to the case a file number that is ancillary to that of the conviction being challenged; and
(3) send a copy of the application by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by secure electronic mail to the attorney representing the state in that court.
(d) The clerk of the convicting court shall promptly deliver copies of documents submitted to the clerk under this article to the applicant and the attorney representing the state.
Sec. 7. ANSWER TO APPLICATION. (a) The state shall file an answer to the application for a writ of habeas corpus not later than the 120th day after the date the state receives notice of issuance of the writ. The state shall serve the answer on counsel for the applicant or, if the applicant is proceeding pro se, on the applicant. The state may request from the convicting court an extension of time in which to answer the application by showing particularized justifying circumstances for the extension, but in no event may the court permit the state to file an answer later than the 180th day after the date the state receives notice of issuance of the writ.
(b) Matters alleged in the application not admitted by the state are deemed denied.
Sec. 8. FINDINGS OF FACT WITHOUT EVIDENTIARY HEARING. (a) Not later than the 20th day after the last date the state answers the application, the convicting court shall determine whether controverted, previously unresolved factual issues material to the legality of the applicant's confinement exist and shall issue a written order of the determination.
(b) If the convicting court determines the issues do not exist, the parties shall file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law for the court to consider on or before a date set by the court that is not later than the 30th day after the date the order is issued.
(c) After argument of counsel, if requested by the court, the convicting court shall make appropriate written findings of fact and conclusions of law not later than the 15th day after the date the parties filed proposed findings or not later than the 45th day after the date the court's determination is made under Subsection (a), whichever occurs first.
(d) The clerk of the court shall immediately send to:
(1) the court of criminal appeals a copy of the:
(A) application;
(B) answer;
(C) orders entered by the convicting court;
(D) proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law; and
(E) findings of fact and conclusions of law entered by the court; and
(2) counsel for the applicant or, if the applicant is proceeding pro se, to the applicant, a copy of:
(A) orders entered by the convicting court;
(B) proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law; and
(C) findings of fact and conclusions of law entered by the court.
Sec. 9. HEARING. (a) If the convicting court determines that controverted, previously unresolved factual issues material to the legality of the applicant's confinement exist, the court shall enter an order, not later than the 20th day after the last date the state answers the application, designating the issues of fact to be resolved and the manner in which the issues shall be resolved. To resolve the issues, the court may require affidavits, depositions, interrogatories, and evidentiary hearings and may use personal recollection.
(b) The convicting court shall hold the evidentiary hearing not later than the 30th day after the date on which the court enters the order designating issues under Subsection (a). The convicting court may grant a motion to postpone the hearing, but not for more than 30 days, and only if the court states, on the record, good cause for delay.
(c) The presiding judge of the convicting court shall conduct a hearing held under this section unless another judge presided over the original capital felony trial, in which event that judge, if qualified for assignment under Section 74.054 or 74.055, Government Code, may preside over the hearing.
(d) The court reporter shall prepare a transcript of the hearing not later than the 30th day after the date the hearing ends and file the transcript with the clerk of the convicting court.
(e) The parties shall file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law for the convicting court to consider on or before a date set by the court that is not later than the 30th day after the date the transcript is filed. If the court requests argument of counsel, after argument the court shall make written findings of fact that are necessary to resolve the previously unresolved facts and make conclusions of law not later than the 15th day after the date the parties file proposed findings or not later than the 45th day after the date the court reporter files the transcript, whichever occurs first.
(f) The clerk of the convicting court shall immediately transmit to:
(1) the court of criminal appeals a copy of:
(A) the application;
(B) the answers and motions filed;
(C) the court reporter's transcript;
(D) the documentary exhibits introduced into evidence;
(E) the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law;
(F) the findings of fact and conclusions of law entered by the court;
(G) the sealed materials such as a confidential request for investigative expenses; and
(H) any other matters used by the convicting court in resolving issues of fact; and
(2) counsel for the applicant or, if the applicant is proceeding pro se, to the applicant, a copy of:
(A) orders entered by the convicting court;
(B) proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law; and
(C) findings of fact and conclusions of law entered by the court.
(g) The clerk of the convicting court shall forward an exhibit that is not documentary to the court of criminal appeals on request of the court.
Sec. 10. RULES OF EVIDENCE. The Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence apply to a hearing held under this article.
Sec. 11. REVIEW BY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS. The court of criminal appeals shall expeditiously review all applications for a writ of habeas corpus submitted under this article. The court may set the cause for oral argument and may request further briefing of the issues by the applicant or the state. After reviewing the record, the court shall enter its judgment remanding the applicant to custody or ordering the applicant's release, as the law and facts may justify.