in Re Littleton ( 2011 )

Opinion issued November 3, 2011.

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

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NO. 01-11-00860-CR

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In Re Littleton, Relator

Original Proceeding on Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Relator, Reginald Littleton, has filed a pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus in this Court. Relator asserts that his constitutional right to a speedy trial has been violated.

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 (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 it did not have jurisdiction to grant habeas relief in pending criminal matter); Denby v. State, 627 S.W.2d 435, 435 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist .] 1981, orig. proceeding) (stating that jurisdiction is appellate only); cf. Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221(d) (Vernon 2004) (providing writ power in civil cases). Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 11.05 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. Ann. art. 11.05 (Vernon 2005).  Further, a pretrial habeas corpus application cannot be used to assert the constitutional or statutory right to a speedy trial. Ex parte Doster, 303 S.W.3d 720, 724 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).

Because we are without jurisdiction to grant the requested relief, we dismiss for want of jurisdiction.

PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Bland and Huddle.

Do not publish.   Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).