in Re J.C.L., a Juvenile ( 2011 )

IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-11-00407-CV
IN RE J.C.L., A JUVENILE
Original Proceeding
MEMORANDUM OPINION
In this mandamus proceeding, we are asked to determine whether the
respondent, Judge Robert Stem of the 82nd Judicial District Court, abused his discretion
in detaining relator, J.C.L, pursuant to section 54.01 of the family code. See TEX. FAM.
CODE ANN. § 54.01 (West 2008). For the reasons stated herein, we deny relator‟s petition
for writ of mandamus.1
I. BACKGROUND
J.C.L. is a sixteen-year-old who was charged with criminally-negligent homicide
based upon his involvement in a one-car accident that resulted in the death of another
minor, C.N.J. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.05 (West 2011).
1 See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.8(d) (“When denying relief, the court may hand down an opinion but is
not required to do so.”).
Approximately six months after the accident, on October 18, 2011, the State filed
its “Original Adjudication Petition Alleging Delinquent Conduct.” In that petition, the
State alleged that J.C.L. “did then and there by criminal negligence, unlawfully cause
the death of an individual, [C.N.J.], by operating a motor vehicle and failing to control
speed, failing to maintain a single lane of traffic[,] and failing to maintain control of said
vehicle.”
On October 24, 2011, the trial court conducted a hearing pursuant to section 54.01
of the family code. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 54.01. At this hearing the State called
three witnesses to testify, though J.C.L. did not call any. At the conclusion of the
hearing, the trial court concluded that J.C.L. should be detained for ten days because he
“may be dangerous to himself or threaten the safety of the public if released.” 2 Also
included with the trial court‟s order were several findings.
On October 26, 2011, J.C.L. filed a petition for writ of mandamus in this Court,
seeking to have the detention order reversed and to be released into the care, custody,
and control of his parents. In addition to his mandamus petition, J.C.L. filed a “Motion
for Temporary Relief Pursuant to Rule 52.10” and a “Motion for Expedited Review.”
On the same day, we requested a response from real party in interest, the State. See TEX.
R. APP. P. 52.4. The State filed its response to J.C.L.‟s mandamus petition on October 28,
2011.
2Despite the trial court‟s finding, the Reporter‟s Record does not contain any evidence whether
or not J.C.L. has a valid driver‟s license, is currently driving, or has driven an automobile since the day of
the accident.
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II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy that will issue only to correct a clear
abuse of discretion when there is “no adequate remedy by appeal.” In re Prudential Ins.
Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135-36 (Tex. 2004) (citations omitted). “A trial court has no
„discretion‟ in determining what the law is or applying the law to the facts.” Walker v.
Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992). “Thus, a clear failure by the trial court to
analyze or apply the law correctly will constitute an abuse of discretion.” Id. (citations
omitted). And, generally speaking, an adequate legal remedy exists if the relator is able
to raise the issue on appeal. See id. However, in some extraordinary cases, an appellate
remedy may be adequate when any benefits to mandamus review are outweighed by
the detriments. See In re McAllen Med. Ctr., Inc., 275 S.W.3d 458, 462 (Tex. 2008) (orig.
proceeding); In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d at 136. Moreover, a relator has
the burden of providing this Court with a sufficient record to establish his right to
mandamus relief. See id. at 837; see also TEX. R. APP. P. 52.3, 52.7.
We recognize that juvenile cases are generally governed by the civil rules. See In
re M.R., 858 S.W.2d 365, 366 (Tex. 1993); see also Ex parte Valle, 104 S.W.3d 888, 890 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2003) (en banc). Texas courts have held that detention orders under section
54.01 of the family code are interlocutory in nature and are not appealable. See In re
M.C., 915 S.W.2d 118, 119 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, no writ) (citing In re J.L.D., 704
S.W.2d 395, 396 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1985, no writ)); see also TEX. FAM. CODE
ANN. § 56.01 (West Supp. 2010) (outlining the rights to appeal in juvenile cases).
However, we are aware that J.C.L. filed an application for writ of habeas corpus in the
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trial court on October 25, 2011, the status of which is unknown. See TEX. FAM. CODE
ANN. § 51.04 (stating that the juvenile court generally has exclusive original jurisdiction
over all proceedings involving a child‟s delinquent conduct).
The writ of habeas corpus, “the great writ,” is the remedy to be used by any
person restrained in his or her liberty. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 11.01 (West
2005); see M.B. v. State, 905 S.W.2d 344, 346 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1995, no writ). “The
great writ is an order from a judge commanding a party, who is alleged to be
restraining the applicant in some way, to appear before the court with the person
complaining of the restraint.” M.B., 905 S.W.2d at 346. “There, the custodian must
explain the reasons for the restraint, and if the reasons do not pass legal muster, the
individual must be released.” Id. “A juvenile, just as any other person, may challenge a
restraint upon his or her liberty by filing an application for writ of habeas corpus in the
proper court.” Id. (citing In re Torres, 476 S.W.2d 883, 884 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1972, no
writ)); see TEX. CONST. art. V, § 6 (stating that courts have jurisdiction, original and
appellate, as may be prescribed by law).
We believe that J.C.L. has adequate remedies other than mandamus relief to
challenge his detention, including an appeal to this court in the event that the trial court
denies his pre-adjudication habeas corpus petition. See Ex parte Valle, 104 S.W.3d at 890
(“The appeal procedures in the Juvenile Justice Code do „not limit a child‟s right to
obtain a writ of habeas corpus.‟ We have held that Article V, section 8 of the Texas
Constitution gives the district court plenary power to issue the writ of habeas corpus.”);
Harbison v. McMurray, 138 Tex. 192, 158 S.W.2d 284, 287 (1942); In re S.G., 935 S.W.2d
In re J.C.L., a Juvenile Page 4
919, 923 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, no writ); In re M.C., 915 S.W.2d at 119 (holding
that jurisdiction established because juvenile‟s appeal was not from a temporary
detention order but from the denial of habeas corpus relief); see also In re L.L., No. 04-03-
00895-CV, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 10272, at *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Dec. 10, 2003,
orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (per curiam) (“Although we do not have original habeas
jurisdiction to consider a trial court‟s detention order, we would have jurisdiction to
consider an appeal from a trial court‟s ruling on the merits of a habeas application
challenging a juvenile detention order.”).3 In fact, in his mandamus petition, J.C.L.
seeks the same relief as would be afforded if his habeas corpus petition was granted.
Furthermore, in his mandamus petition, J.C.L. does not cite to authority holding
that a party does not have an adequate appellate remedy in a case such as this—where a
pre-adjudication habeas corpus application has been filed in the trial court. He also
does not cite any cases where a juvenile filed a writ of mandamus in order to secure his
release from detention.
Based on the foregoing, we conclude that J.C.L. has not presented us with a
record to determine that he lacks an adequate remedy by appeal and is thereby entitled
to mandamus relief. See Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 837; see also TEX. R. APP. P. 52.3, 52.7. We
therefore deny J.C.L.‟s mandamus petition.4
We do recognize that other courts have held to the contrary. See In re J.L.D., 704 S.W.2d 395, 396
3
(Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1985, no writ); Stephenson v. State, 515 S.W.2d 362, 363 (Tex. Civ. App.—
Dallas 1974, writ dism‟d); Mendoza v. Baker, 319 S.W.2d 147, 148-51 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
1958, no writ). However, we decline to follow the holdings of these courts.
4 We dismiss as moot all remaining motions that are pending.
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AL SCOGGINS
Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Davis, and
Justice Scoggins
Denied
Opinion delivered and filed October 28, 2011
[OT06]
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