Ex Parte Victor Tugwell ( 2011 )

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion filed January 13, 2011.

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

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NO. 14-11-00014-CR

NO. 14-11-00015-CR

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EX PARTE VICTOR TUGWELL, Relator

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

179th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Nos. 1219410 & 1219411

M E M O R A N D U M   O P I N I O N

            On January 11, 2011, relator, Victor Tugwell, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in this court.  See Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.221(d); see also Tex. R. App. P. 52.  In his petition, relator alleges that he is illegally restrained without bail on charges of intoxication manslaughter and aggravated assault, and he asks this court to set pre-trial bail. 

            We are unable to consider relator’s petition for writ of habeas corpus because our authority to entertain petitions for writ of habeas corpus extends solely to the actions of judges in civil cases.  See Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.221(d) (providing writ power to courts of appeals in civil cases where a person’s liberty is restrained).  A court of appeals does not have original jurisdiction over habeas corpus proceedings in criminal matters.  See Chavez v. State, 132 S.W.3d 509, 510, 510 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.); Ex parte Hearon, 3 S.W.3d 650, 650 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999, orig. proceeding) (determining that appellate court did not have jurisdiction to grant habeas relief in pending criminal matter).  Our habeas corpus jurisdiction in criminal matters is appellate only.  See In re Shaw, 175 S.W.3d 901, 903 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2005, orig. proceeding).  The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure vests power over original habeas corpus proceedings in criminal cases in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the district courts, the county courts, or a judge of those courts.  Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.05.  

Therefore, we dismiss relator’s petition for lack of jurisdiction. 

                                                                        PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Chief Justice Hedges and Justices Frost and Christopher.

Do No Publish — Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).