Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed August 5, 2021.

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

NO. 14-19-00792-CV

JASON DEYO, Appellant

V.

CHAD DWAYNE BRADSHAW AND KENNETH RANDALL

HUFSTETLER, Appellees

On Appeal from the 239th District Court

Brazoria County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 103573-CV

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Following an enforcement proceeding relating to a child-support order, 

appellant Jason Deyo filed this lawsuit asserting claims of false imprisonment and 

gross negligence against two judges presiding over the enforcement proceedings, 

appellees Chad Dwayne Bradshaw and Kenneth Randall Hufstetler. Deyo and the 

judges filed competing motions for summary judgment. Among other arguments, 

the judges asserted that judicial immunity barred Deyo’s suit. The trial court 
2

granted the judges’ motion. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

During the relevant time period, Judge Hufstetler was the district judge for 

the 300th District Court; Judge Bradshaw was the associate judge for that same

court. In 2009, as part of a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, the 300th

District Court signed a final order requiring Deyo, among other things, to pay child 

support to his ex-wife. In 2017, Deyo’s ex-wife filed a motion in the 300th District 

Court to enforce the child-support order, followed by an amended motion to 

enforce the order. After a hearing on the amended order before Associate Judge 

Bradshaw, Judge Bradshaw rendered orders holding Deyo in contempt for 

violating the child-support order and committing Deyo to jail for 180 days for each 

of 17 violations, with the periods of confinement to run concurrently. The day after 

the hearing, Judge Hufstetler signed an order memorializing Associate Judge 

Bradshaw’s orders. Deyo filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which Judge 

Hufstetler granted, releasing Deyo after less than a month of confinement.

II. ANALYSIS

A. Subject-matter jurisdiction

We first address our subject-matter jurisdiction, specifically whether the trial 

court’s order granting the judges’ summary-judgment motion was a final, 

appealable judgment. See M.O. Dental Lab v. Rape, 139 S.W.3d 671, 673 (Tex. 

2004) (appellate court is “obligated to review sua sponte issues affecting 

jurisdiction” even if not raised by parties). A judgment is final “if it disposes of all 

pending parties and claims in the record.” Lehmann v. Har–Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 

191, 195 (Tex. 2001). In Lehmann, the supreme court instructed that, “in cases in 

which only one final and appealable judgment can be rendered, a judgment issued 
3

without a conventional trial is final for purposes of appeal if and only if either it 

actually disposes of all claims and parties then before the court, regardless of its 

language, or it states with unmistakable clarity that it is a final judgment as to all 

claims and all parties.” Id. at 192–93. If the judgment is not “unmistakably clear,”

to determine whether a judgment disposes of all pending claims and parties, it may 

be necessary for the appellate court to look to the record in the case. Id. at 205–06. 

“[A]n order that all parties appear to have treated as final may be final despite 

some vagueness in the order itself, while an order that some party should not 

reasonably have regarded as final may not be final despite language that might 

indicate otherwise.” Id. at 206.

Deyo’s petition names three defendants: Judge Hufstetler, Associate Judge 

Bradshaw, and the State of Texas. The trial court’s order on defendants’ motion for 

summary judgment, however, only addresses claims against the judges:

After considering Defendants District Court Judge K. Randall 

Hufstetler and Associate Judge Chad D. Bradshaw’s Motion for 

Summary Judgment, the pleadings, the response, the reply, and the 

other evidence on file, the Court GRANTS the Motion for Summary 

Judgment.

Accordingly, the Court orders Plaintiff Jason Deyo to take 

nothing on his claims against Defendants District Court Judge K. 

Randall Hufstetler and Associate Judge Chad D. Bradshaw.

A judgment that does not dispose of unserved parties still may be final for 

purposes of appeal when (1) the judgment expressly disposes of some, but not all 

defendants, (2) the only remaining defendants have not been served or answered, 

and (3) nothing in the record indicates that plaintiff ever expected to obtain service 

on the unserved defendants, such that the case “stands as if there had been a 

discontinuance” as to the unserved defendants. Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. 

Penn, 363 S.W.2d 230, 232 (Tex. 1962); see M.O. Dental Lab, 139 S.W.3d at 675 
4

(holding that decision in Penn survives Lehmann).

Here, Associate Judge Bradshaw and Judge Hufstetler were served, 

appeared, and answered. Our review of the record does not reveal any efforts by 

Deyo to serve the State of Texas, and there is no appearance or answer by the 

State. Accordingly, we turn to whether the record indicates that Deyo “ever 

expected to obtain service” on the State. See Penn, 363 S.W.2d at 232. The record 

contains no request for a citation for the State. Indeed, in his listing of the parties, 

while Deyo lists addresses where the two judges may be served, he does not do so

for the State of Texas:

Defendant, THE STATE OF TEXAS is sued for Plaintiff[’]s 

personal injuries caused by the gross and negligent acts or omissions 

of its employees. Those employees were acting within the scope of 

their office or employment under circumstances where THE STATE 

OF TEXAS, if a private person, would be liable to Plaintiff in 

accordance with Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code 

§ 41.005(b)(1).

This language, which does not include any information about where or how the 

State of Texas might be served, indicates that Deyo did not intend to serve the 

State. Cf. Fair Oaks Hous. Partners, LP v. Hernandez, 616 S.W.3d 602, 606–07

(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2020, no pet. h.) (plaintiff’s listing of 

defendant’s address as “unknown” in original and amended petitions indicated that 

plaintiff did not intend to serve that defendant). In addition, in his own motion for 

summary judgment, while Deyo lists the State of Texas as a party, he also states, 

“On July 23rd defendants filed an Answer that contained a ‘General Denial’ along 

with numerous Unmeritorious claims and untenable affirmative defenses.” Only 

the judges had filed answers, indicating that Deyo did not view the State of Texas

as a separate party to be served. Further, we note that Deyo appealed the trial 

court’s judgment without arguing, either in the trial court or this court, that the 
5

judgment was not final because it did not dispose of claims against the State of 

Texas. We conclude nothing in the record indicates that Deyo ever expected to 

obtain service on the State of Texas. Accordingly, the trial court’s order granting 

the judges’ summary-judgment motion, which disposes of all claims against the 

judges, is final and appealable. See Penn, 363 S.W.2d at 232.

B. Notice of summary-judgment hearing

In issue 1, Deyo argues that he did not receive sufficient notice of the 

hearing on the judges’ summary-judgment motion because the notice of hearing 

was filed on August 5, 2019 at 3:12 p.m., setting the hearing for August 26, 2019 

at 9:00 a.m. Deyo complains that he did not receive the required 21-days notice; 

instead, the hearing was “six (6) hours and 12 minutes early and thus has not met 

the 21 day requirement found under Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c).” See Tex. R. Civ. P. 

166a(c).

Rule 4 states, in relevant part, the following regarding the computation of 

time under the Rules of Civil Procedure:

In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these rules, 

by order of court, or by any applicable statute, the day of the act, 

event, or default after which the designated period of time begins to 

run is not to be included. The last day of the period so computed is to 

be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, in which 

event the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a

Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 4. In Lewis v. Blake, the supreme court applied Rule 4 to service of 

hearing on a Rule 166a(c) summary-judgment motion:

Rule 4 could not be plainer: it applies to any period of time prescribed 

by the rules of procedure, and Rule 166a is one of those rules. 

Applying Rule 4 to Rule 166a(c), the day of service is not to be 

included in computing the minimum 21–day notice for hearing, and 

the day of hearing is. Thus, hearing on a motion for summary 
6

judgment may be set as early as the 21st day after the motion is 

served, or the 24th day if the motion is served by mail.

876 S.W.2d 314, 316 (Tex. 1994). In this case, notice of hearing on the judges’

summary-judgment motion was filed on August 5 setting the hearing for August 

26, which was the 21st day after the motion was filed. See id. We conclude that 

Deyo has not shown service of the notice of hearing was untimely.

We overrule issue 1.

C. Judicial immunity

In issues 2 through 10, Deyo makes various arguments as to why the judges 

are not immune from suit under the doctrine of judicial immunity. Deyo focuses on 

his allegation that, although he was incarcerated following the hearing on the 

amended motion for enforcement, he was not “personally served” with notice of 

the hearing as required by Family Code section 157.062(c). Tex. Fam. Code Ann. 

§ 157.062(c).1 He also claims he was not served with the motion for enforcement 

itself. Deyo argues that, in light of these procedural deficiencies, the judges denied 

him procedural due process—Associate Judge Bradshaw, by proceeding with the 

hearing and rendering orders following the hearing, and Judge Hufstetler, by 

signing the written order following the hearing. Deyo contends his claims are 

supported by the fact that Judge Hufstetler later granted his habeas-corpus petition

1 Section 157.062(c) provides:

Notice of hearing on a motion for enforcement of a final order providing for child 

support or possession of or access to a child, any provision of a final order 

rendered against a party who has already appeared in a suit under this title, or any 

provision of a temporary order shall be given to the respondent by personal 

service of a copy of the motion and notice not later than the 10th day before the 

date of the hearing. For purposes of this subsection, “temporary order” includes a 

temporary restraining order, standing order, injunction, and any other temporary 

order rendered by a court.

Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 157.062(c).
7

and released him from prison. Deyo also complains that the lack of personal 

service of the hearing notice deprived the trial court of personal jurisdiction over 

him.

Judges acting in their official judicial capacity have immunity from liability 

and suit for judicial acts performed within the scope of their jurisdiction. See 

Dallas Cnty. v. Halsey, 87 S.W.3d 552, 554 (Tex. 2002). This immunity extends to 

actions that are done “in error, maliciously, and even in excess of the judge’s 

authority.” Twilligear v. Carrell, 148 S.W.3d 502, 504 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th 

Dist.] 2004, pet. denied) (citing Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 356–57 (1978)).

Judicial immunity is overcome only for actions that are: (1) nonjudicial, i.e., not 

taken in the judge’s official capacity, or (2) taken in the complete absence of all 

jurisdiction. Mireles v. Waco, 502 U.S. 9, 11–12 (1991); Twilligear, 148 S.W.3d at

504.

We first determine whether the judges’ actions were “judicial.” Whether an 

act is judicial for this purpose is determined by the nature of the act, i.e., whether it 

is a function normally performed by a judge, as contrasted from other 

administrative, legislative, or executive acts that simply happen to be done by 

judges. Twilligear, 148 S.W.3d at 504–05. Judicial acts include those performed by

judges in adjudicating, or otherwise exercising their judicial authority over, 

proceedings pending in their courts. Id. at 505. Conversely, nonjudicial acts 

include other tasks, even though essential to the functioning of courts and required 

by law to be performed by a judge, such as: (1) selecting jurors for a county’s 

courts; (2) promulgating and enforcing a code of conduct for attorneys; and (3) 

making personnel decisions regarding court employees and officers. Id.

Here, the judges’ actions—holding a hearing and ruling on a motion—are
8

quintessential judicial actions.2 See id. at 504–05. While Deyo may disagree with 

the judges’ decisions, these are nonetheless judicial acts, even if there were errors 

of procedural due process relating to service of the enforcement motion and notice 

of hearing. See Stump, 435 U.S. at 359 (rejecting argument that actions were 

nonjudicial due to judge’s “failure to comply with elementary principles of 

procedural due process” and explaining that “[a] judge is absolutely immune from 

liability for his judicial acts even if his exercise of authority is flawed by the 

commission of grave procedural errors”).

We next examine whether the judges’ actions were “taken in the complete 

absence of jurisdiction.” In determining whether an act was “clearly outside” a 

judge’s jurisdiction for judicial-immunity purposes, the focus is not on whether the 

judge’s specific act was proper or improper, but on whether the judge had the 

subject-matter jurisdiction necessary to perform an act of that kind in the case.3

Bradt v. West, 892 S.W.2d 56, 68 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ 

denied). This case concerns enforcement of a 2009 child-support order by the

300th District Court, the court over which Judge Hufstetler and Associate Judge 

Bradshaw presided during the relevant time period. A trial court has inherent 

judicial authority to enforce its orders and decrees, Katz v. Bianchi, 848 S.W.2d 

372, 374 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, no writ) (collecting cases), and 

statutory authority to enforce its temporary or final child-support orders in suits 

affecting the parent-child relationship. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 157.001(a), (c), 

2 The factors we consider in determining whether a judge’s act is “judicial” are whether 

(1) the act complained of is one normally performed by a judge, (2) the act occurred in the 

courtroom or an appropriate adjunct such as the judge’s chambers, (3) the controversy centered 

around a case pending before the judge, and (4) the act arose out of an exchange with the judge 

in the judge’s judicial capacity. Bradt v. West, 892 S.W.2d 56, 67 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st 

Dist.] 1994, writ denied).

3 Accordingly, Deyo’s arguments concerning personal jurisdiction are not relevant to this 

analysis.
9

(d). Moreover, the trial court had statutory authority to hold Deyo in contempt for 

violations of the child-support order. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 157.001(b) (“The 

court may enforce by contempt any provision of a temporary or final order.”). We 

conclude the judges’ actions were not “taken in the complete absence of 

jurisdiction.”

Because the actions complained of were judicial actions and were not taken 

in the complete absence of subject-matter jurisdiction, we conclude the trial court 

properly rendered summary judgment in favor of the judges on judicial-immunity 

grounds. We overrule Deyo’s issues 2 through 10. We do not address issues 11 and 

12, as these issues concern alternate arguments that would not afford Deyo any 

relief given our conclusion the judges were entitled to judicial immunity. Tex. R. 

App. P. 47.1.

III. CONCLUSION

We affirm the trial court’s judgment as challenged on appeal.

/s/ Charles A. Spain

Justice

Panel consists of Justices Bourliot, Zimmerer, and Spain.