in the Matter of W.E.L. ( 2015 )

Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-15-00353-CV
IN THE MATTER OF W.E.L.
From the 386th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 1992JUV01331
Honorable Andy Mireles, Judge Presiding
PER CURIAM
Sitting: Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
Karen Angelini, Justice
Jason Pulliam, Justice
Delivered and Filed: July 1, 2015
DISMISSED FOR WANT OF JURISDICTION
On November 17, 1992, W.E.L., who was a minor at the time, was charged with delinquent
conduct. After a hearing and presentation of evidence and argument, on February 4, 1993, the
juvenile court issued a waiver of jurisdiction and order of transfer to criminal district court. W.E.L.
was later convicted and sentenced. On May 28, 2015, W.E.L. filed this notice of appeal from the
waiver of jurisdiction and order of transfer, only, citing “jurisdictional defects”.
A juvenile court may waive its exclusive original jurisdiction and transfer a child to an
appropriate criminal district court. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 54.02(a) (West 2014); Silva v. State,
263 S.W.3d 269, 270 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.). Under current law, a transfer
order is not immediately appealable, but may be challenged within an appeal from any final
conviction. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 56.01(c) (West 2014) (codified at TEX. CODE CRIM.
04-15-00353-CV
PROC. ANN. art. 44.47(b) (West 2014)); Silva, 263 S.W.3d at 270. Prior to January 1, 1996,
however, section 56.01(c)(1)(A) of the Texas Family Code permitted a juvenile to appeal from the
juvenile court’s transfer order to criminal district court. See Act of May 23, 1991, 72nd Leg., R.S.,
ch. 680, § 1, 1991 Tex. Gen. Laws 2466, 2466, amended by Act of May 27, 1995, 74th Leg., R.S.,
ch. 262, § 48, 1995 Tex. Gen. Laws 2517, 2584, 2591; see Ex parte Venegas, 116 S.W.3d 160,
163 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, no pet.). 1
Here, the conduct for which W.E.L. was charged occurred, and the final transfer order was
signed, before the effective date of the 1995 amendment to the Family Code. Therefore, the former
rules apply, which allow a juvenile to immediately appeal a transfer order. From the record, it is
clear W.E.L. seeks to appeal the juvenile court’s waiver of jurisdiction and order of transfer;
however, W.E.L. filed this notice of appeal challenging the juvenile court’s transfer order on May
28, 2015.
A timely notice of appeal is necessary to invoke a court of appeals’ jurisdiction. See Olivo
v. State, 918 S.W.2d 519, 522 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Because W.E.L.’s notice of appeal was
filed more than 90 days after the transfer order was entered, and he did not file any motion for
extension of time, it was not timely filed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.
Under the preceding authorities, we do not have jurisdiction to consider this untimely
appeal from the juvenile court’s transfer order. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for lack of
jurisdiction.
PER CURIAM
1
It is noted the legislature recently amended Texas Family Code Section 56.01(c) to allow again an interlocutory
appeal from the juvenile court’s transfer order to criminal district court. This amendment is effective September 1,
2015. See Act of May 12, 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., S.B. 888, § 3 (to be codified as an amendment to TEX. FAMILY CODE
ANN. § 56.01(c), (h)).
-2-