in Re Patrick Griffith

Opinion issued May 1, 2014
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-14-00087-CV
———————————
IN RE PATRICK GRIFFITH, Relator
Original Proceeding on Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
OPINION
Relator, Patrick Griffith, requests habeas corpus relief after the trial court
sentenced him to thirty days’ confinement in Brazoria County Jail following a
finding of direct contempt.1 On February 4, 2014, after a preliminary review of
relator’s petition for writ of habeas corpus, we ordered relator released upon his
1
The underlying case is In the Matter of the Marriage of Angela Griffith and
Patrick Griffith, cause number 72063, pending in the 300th District Court of
Brazoria County, Texas, the Honorable K. Randall Hufstetler presiding.
posting of a bond in the amount of $100.00, pending a final determination of his
petition. Because we conclude that relator is entitled to relief, we grant his petition
for writ of habeas corpus, order relator released from the bond set by this Court on
February 4, 2014, and order relator discharged from custody.
Background
This habeas proceeding arises out of a divorce proceeding in the trial court.
On January 6, 2014, relator testified before the trial court. While relator was being
questioned by real party in interest Angela Griffith’s attorney, the trial court
admonished relator and stated the following after relator failed to answer the
questions being asked:
Let me tell you what we’re going to do. The next time that you are
nonresponsive to the question that is asked of you, we’re done and
we’re going to just move right into a Show Cause hearing where I will
determine whether or not you should be held in contempt for failing to
follow my instructions that I’ve given you now three times to answer
just the question that’s asked. That’s why I’m not giving it to you a
fourth time. . . . [B]ecause of some reason unknown to me, you aren’t
getting it. So, here’s what you need to get. The next time Ms. Leleux
asks you a question and you don’t answer it and you go off on
something else, we’ll stop and I’ll determine whether or not you’re
going to be held in contempt. For each violation that I hold you in
contempt, you’re looking at up to 180 days in Brazoria County
Detention Center and a fine of up to $500 for each occasion.
Subsequently, following additional testimony, the trial court held relator in
direct contempt for failing to answer the questions asked by relator’s own counsel.
2
Specifically, the court stated:
So, here’s your first 30 days. You’re not leaving today because I’m
holding you in contempt for directly violating my order to answer the
questions that are asked of you. 30 days in the Brazoria County
Detention Center, that’s your first 30. We’ll go for another the next
questions that’s asked of you, and we’ll keep going till we get done
with this hearing. . . . She’s asking you a very specific question that
you can’t answer. . . . I’m not letting this one go. 30 days in jail.
We’ll recess until 9:00 a.m. Henry, I’ll make a docket entry, so that
you can take Mr. Griffith and bring him back in the morning if you
would, please, sir.
The trial court made a docket entry reflecting the contempt finding, but the court
did not sign a written contempt or commitment order.
On January 30, 2014, relator filed his petition for writ of habeas corpus with
this Court. Subsequently, we ordered relator released upon his posting of a bond,
pending full submission of the matter. The Court also requested a response to
relator’s petition for writ of habeas corpus from Angela Griffith; however, no
response was filed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.4 (stating that filing response is not
mandatory, but that Court may not grant relief before response is requested).
Standard of Review
An original habeas proceeding is a collateral attack on a contempt judgment.
Ex parte Rohleder, 424 S.W.2d 891, 892 (Tex. 1967) (orig. proceeding). The
purpose of a habeas corpus proceeding is not to determine the ultimate guilt or
innocence of the relator, but only to ascertain whether the relator has been
unlawfully confined. Ex parte Gordon, 584 S.W.2d 686, 688 (Tex. 1979). In a
3
habeas corpus proceeding, the order or judgment challenged is presumed to be
valid. Ex parte Occhipenti, 796 S.W.2d 805, 809 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
1990, orig. proceeding). For this Court to order the release of a relator in a habeas
corpus proceeding, we must find that the trial court’s order directing the relator to
be incarcerated is void because of a lack of jurisdiction or because the relator was
deprived of liberty without due process of law. In re Butler, 45 S.W.3d 268, 270
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, orig. proceeding). The relator bears the
burden of showing that he is entitled to relief. In re Turner, 177 S.W.3d 284, 288
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, orig. proceeding).
Analysis
Relator asserts his confinement is illegal because: (1) the trial court failed to
sign a written order of commitment; (2) the trial court limited its warning of
contempt to the next time opposing counsel asked a question, not relator’s counsel;
and (3) relator’s conduct did not obstruct or tend to obstruct the administration of
justice. Because we sustain relator’s first issue, we do not address the remaining
issues in relator’s petition.
In his first issue, relator asserts that his due process rights were violated
because the trial court did not sign a written order of commitment. We agree.
It is well settled in Texas that a person may not be imprisoned for contempt
without a written order of commitment. Ex pare Amaya, 748 S.W.2d 224, 224
4
(Tex. 1988) (orig. proceeding); Ex parte Supercinski, 561 S.W.2d 482, 483 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1977) (orig. proceeding). This is true in cases of both direct contempt
and constructive contempt.2 See Ex parte Supercinski, 561 S.W.2d at 483–84
(holding that no one may be restrained for contempt, either direct or constructive,
without written order of commitment); Ex parte Christofferson, 345 S.W.2d 410,
411 (Tex. Crim. App. 1961) (orig. proceeding) (granting relief where trial court
found relators in direct contempt and orally ordered them taken to jail but never
signed written order of commitment); see also Ex parte Camara, 628 S.W.2d 803,
804 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982) (orig. proceeding) (“In absence of a written order of
contempt . . . , petitioner may not be restrained for contempt.”). In regard to direct
contempt specifically, the Beaumont Court of Appeals has explained:
If faced with a direct act of contempt, . . . the trial court may cause the
contemnor to be detained by the sheriff for a short and reasonable
time while the judgment of contempt and order of commitment are
being prepared for the judge’s signature. Thereafter, if no written
order is signed, the contemnor must be released in compliance with
due process.
2
Direct contempt is that kind of disobedience or disrespect that occurs in the
presence of the court. Ex parte Chambers, 898 S.W.2d 257, 259 (Tex. 1995)
(orig. proceeding). In contrast, constructive contempt occurs outside the court’s
presence. In re Reece, 341 S.W.3d 360, 365 (Tex. 2011) (orig. proceeding). Due
process requirements may differ in cases involving direct contempt versus
constructive contempt. See Ex parte Daniels, 722 S.W.2d 707, 709–10 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1987) (orig. proceeding). However, due process requires a written
order of commitment in cases of direct contempt and constructive contempt. See
Ex parte Supercinski, 561 S.W.2d 482, 483–84 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977) (orig.
proceeding).
5
In re Sheard, 102 S.W.3d 808, 810 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2003, orig. proceeding)
(internal citations omitted).
Here, the trial court found relator in direct contempt during trial and
sentenced him to thirty days’ confinement for failing to answer the questions asked
of relator during relator’s testimony. However, the trial court never signed a
written order of commitment. Instead, the trial court made a docket sheet notation
stating that relator was ordered to remain in custody on the contempt charge for
thirty days. A docket sheet notation is not sufficient to satisfy due process
requirements; a written order of commitment is required. See Ex parte
Supercinski, 561 S.W.2d at 483 (granting relief where there was no written
commitment order and record revealed only judge’s oral order and docket sheet
notations); In re Gonzales, No. 11-05-00388-CV, 2006 WL 133703, at *1 (Tex.
App.—Eastland Jan. 19, 2006, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (granting relief where
docket sheet noted that relator was held in contempt and committed to jail but
record contained no written commitment order); Ex parte Thompson, 803 S.W.2d
876, 877 & n.1 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1991, orig. proceeding) (ordering
discharge on other grounds, but noting that written order of commitment was
necessary even though docket sheet entry revealed that trial court held relator in
contempt); see also State v. Shaw, 4 S.W.3d 875, 878 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999, no
pet.) (“A docket sheet entry cannot stand as an order. . . . Rather, a docket sheet
6
entry is a memorandum made for the convenience of the trial court and clerk.”
(internal citations omitted)).
Because the trial court did not sign a written commitment order after holding
relator in direct contempt, we hold that relator’s due process rights were violated.
We sustain relator’s first issue.
Conclusion
We grant relator’s petition for writ of habeas corpus, order relator released
from the bond set by this Court on February 4, 2014, and order relator discharged
from custody.
Evelyn V. Keyes
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Keyes, Bland, and Brown.
7