Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion

,
The Attorney General of Texas
December 19, 1978
JOHN L. HILL
Attorney General
Honorable Maurice S. Pipkin Opinion No. H- 1294
Executive Director
State Commission on Judicial Conduct Re: Authority of municipal
120 Supreme Court Bldg. judges and justices of peace to
Austin, Texas 767B change moving traffic violation
to nonmoving violation.
Dear Mr. Pipkin:
You request our opinion concerning the authority of municipal court
judges and justices of the peace in traffic cases. You ask whether a judge
may dismiss a moving violation charge in exchange for a plea of guilty to a
nonmoving violation which is not contained in the complaint, is not a lesser
included offense and bears, no factual relationship to the defendant’s conduct.
In order for a justice of the peace or municipal judge to act in a
criminal case, there must be a written sworn complaint charging that the
accused committed a particular offense against the laws of the state. Code
Crim. Proc. arts. 45.01; 45.16; 45.17; 15.04; 15.05. The purpose of the
complaint in a corporation court is to commence the ~proceedings and thereby
confer jurisdiction upqn the court. Bass v. State, 427 S.W.2d 624, 626 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1966). Absent a complaint, a judgment attempted to be entered
on a plea is void. Bragg v. State, 6 S.W.2d 365 (Tex. Crim. App. 1926). Harris
County v. Stewart, 41 S.W. 650 (Tex. 1697). It is essential that the corn-
be sworn; otherwise the judgment is void. Ex pa rte Boxeman, 313 S.W.2d 300
(Tex. Crim. App. 1956). We note that if the original complaint charging a
person is falsified, the person falsely altering it could be guilty of an offense
under Penal Code section 37.10, Tampering with Governmental Record. See
also Penal Code S 37.03, Aggravated Perjury; and S 39.02, Oftic=
?.&ession.
While most rights and procedural matters may be waived by a
defendant, jurisdictional matters may not be waived. Casies Y. State. SO3 .--.-- . -_-_-, ___
S.W.2d 262, 265 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973)t Utsman Y. State. i 165 S.W.2d 573 (Tex.
I, ---...-.- ..
__-__,
Crim. App. 1972).
A variance between the judgment of conviction and the offense charged
in the pleading is fatal to the court’s jurisdiction or power, and a defendant’s
plea of guilty is irrelevant. It is a fundamental jurisdictional principle that
Honorable Maurice 5. Pipkin - Page 2 (R-1294)
the state’s pleadi must support the Judgment. Martina v. State, 494 S.W.2d 162
(Tex. Crim. App.T 973) (charge of shoplifting does not support conviction on guilty
plea for theft)i Butler v. State, 462 S.W.td 596 (Tax. Crim. App. 1971) (charge of
possession of beer does not support conviction on plea of guilty to unlawful sale);
McCafferty v. State, 395 S.W.Pd 36 (Tex. Crim. App. 1965) (complaint of
aggravated assault on policeman does not support conviction on plea of guilty to
DUD; v 391 S.W.2d 61 (Tex. Crim. App. 1965) (charge of injuring
personal property does not support conviction on plea of guilty to unlawfully
carrying pistol); Acosta v. State, 365 S.W.2d 394 (Tex. Crim. App. 1965) (complaint
of possession of beer for sale does not support conviction on plea of guilty for
unlawful sale); see Carrillo v. State, 356 S.W.2d 635 (Tex. Crim. App. 1962)
(indictment for robbery does not support conviction on plea of guilt to theft from
person); Rx parte Dies, 272 S.W.2d 373 (Tex. Crim. App. 1954) r indictment for
robbery does not support conviction on plea of guilty to theft from person, reduced
at prosecutor’s request); Van Andale v. State, 196 S.W.2d 270 (Tex. Crim. App.
1946) findictment for robbery does not support conviction on plea of guilty to theft
from person, court without furlsdiction to try); see also Houston v. State,, 556
S.W.2d 345, 347 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977) fnln the absence of jurisdiction, the
judgment of conviction was a nullity. . . . 3, Huntsman v. State, 12 Tex. Ct. App.
619, 633 0662) (nIhe law condemns no one until the matter has been duly charged
against him.?.
Accordingly we believe that a justice of the peace or municipal judge is not
authorized to dismiss a moving violation in return for a plea of guilty to an
unrelated, nonmoving violation.
SUMMARY
A justice of the peace or municipal court judge has no
authority or power to change a complaint charging a moving
violation to a nonmoving violation, and such judgment on an
offense not charged would be void.
Very truly yours,
torney General of Texas
APPROVED:
p. 5103
c
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Honorable Maurice 5. Pipkin - Page 3 (H-1294)
Opinion Committee
Isn
p. 5104