EX PARTE COLIN W. McANDREW

EX PARTE COLIN W. McANDREW

Appellant Colin W. McAndrew ("McAndrew") attempts to appeal (1) an order of the County Court of Houston County dated July 28, 2003 denying McAndrew's petition for writ of habeas corpus in which he sought the release of his minor children "from illegal restraint and detention", (2) an order of the Third Judicial District Court of Houston County dated August 4, 2003 denying McAndrew's petition for writ of habeas corpus, and (3) a "declaration" of the Third Judicial District Court of Houston County on August 4, 2003 "that [McAndrew] was a Vexatious Litigant."

The granting or denying of a writ of habeas corpus for possession of a child is not appealable. Gray v. Rankin, 594 S.W.2d 409, 409 (Tex. 1980). Furthermore, neither the order denying McAndrew's petition for writ of habeas corpus nor the "declaration" that he "was a Vexatious Litigant" was reduced to writing by the trial court. However, the clerk's record includes a copy of a docket sheet on which the trial court noted that the writ of habeas corpus was denied for want of jurisdiction. A second notation shows that the trial court found McAndrew to be a "Vexatious Person" and ordered that no further pleadings were to be filed by McAndrew without the trial court's prior written authority. A docket sheet entry is not a substitute for a signed written order and therefore cannot constitute an appealable order. E.g., Emerald Oaks Hotel/Conference Center, Inc. v. Zardenetta, 776 S.W.2d 577, 578 (Tex. 1989); Intercity Management Corp. v. Chambers, 820 S.W.2d 811, 812 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 199, orig. proceeding). Therefore, regardless of whether these two orders are otherwise appealable, we cannot review the trial court's action without a signed, written order.

On September 4, 2003, pursuant to Rule 37.2 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, this court notified McAndrew that the record received does not contain an appealable order and therefore does not show the jurisdiction of this court. McAndrew was also informed that unless the record was supplemented on or before September 15, 2003 to show jurisdiction, the appeals would be dismissed. McAndrew's deadline has now passed, and he has failed to show the jurisdiction of this court.

This court's appellate jurisdiction is limited to appeals from final judgments and such interlocutory orders as the legislature has deemed appealable. City of Houston v. Kilburn, 849 S.W.2d 810, 811 (Tex. 1993); see, e.g., Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014 (Vernon Supp. 2003). For the reasons stated above, the orders denying McAndrew's petition for writ of habeas corpus and the trial court's finding that McAndrew is a "Vexatious Litigant" are not appealable. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeals for want of jurisdiction.

JAMES T. WORTHEN

Chief Justice

Opinion delivered September 24, 2003.

Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and DeVasto, J.