Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 2023

In Re Jeannie Dugas v. the State of Texas

In Re Jeannie Dugas v. the State of Texas
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided August 30, 2023

In Re Jeannie Dugas v. the State of Texas

Opinion

In The Court of Appeals Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont __________________ NO. 09-23-00270-CR __________________

IN RE JEANNIE DUGAS __________________________________________________________________ Original Proceeding 128th District Court of Orange County, Texas __________________________________________________________________ MEMORANDUM OPINION Jeannie Dugas filed an original petition for a writ of habeas corpus in a criminal case. She states that she has been continuously detained in jail since her arrest on two criminal charges. The statutory grant of power to issue a writ of habeas corpus “to the court of appeals or a court of appeal district in which a person is restrained in his liberty” is limited to restraint of liberty of a person within our district “by virtue of an order, process, or commitment issued by a court or judge because of the violation of an order, judgment, or decree previously made, rendered, or entered by the court or judge in a civil case.” Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221(d). An intermediate court of appeals lacks original habeas jurisdiction in criminal law matters. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.05 (By Whom Writ May Be Granted); see also Denby v. State, 627 S.W.2d 435 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

1981, orig. proceeding) (“The Courts of Appeals have no original habeas corpus jurisdiction in criminal matters; their jurisdiction is appellate only.”). Accordingly, we dismiss Dugas’s petition for writ of habeas corpus for lack of jurisdiction.

PETITION DISMISSED.

PER CURIAM Submitted on August 29, 2023 Opinion Delivered August 30, 2023 Do Not Publish Before Golemon, C.J., Horton and Wright, JJ.

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