Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1952

Davis v. State

Davis v. State
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · Decided April 2, 1952 · Davidson
247 S.W.2d 392; 157 Tex. Crim. 146; 1952 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1717 (South Western Reporter, Second Series)

Davis v. State

Opinion

DAVIDSON, Judge.

*147 Unlawful possession of whisky for the purpose of sale is the offense; the punishment, a fine of $1,000 and one year in jail.

The record affirmatively reflects that this case was tried before a special judge. The transcript does not reflect either the election of such judge or his oath of office.

A special judge has no authority to act — and each act, as such, is a nullity — until he has taken the oath of office. Mims v. State, 112 Tex. Cr. R. 176, 15 S. W. 2d 628; Norman v. State, 102 Tex. Cr. R. 5, 277 S. W. 126; Blackburn v. State, 149 Tex. Cr. R. 197, 192 S. W. 2d 888.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

Opinion approved by the court.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.