Case Name: GRIFFIN v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1930-05-28
Citations: 29 S.W.2d 349
Docket Number: No. 13395
Parties: GRIFFIN v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 29
Pages: 349–350

Head Matter:
GRIFFIN v. STATE.
No. 13395.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
May 28, 1930.
Rehearing Denied June 25, 1930.
Will Hancock and Tom Whipple, both of Waxahachie, for appellant.
A. A. Dawson,' State’s Atty., of Austin, for the State.

Opinion:
MARTIN, J.
The appellant in this case was indicted for murder. When his case was called for trial, a motion duly verified by the wife of appellant was filed and presented to the court which alleged that the appellant was mentally incompetent to make a rational defense, and asking that the court hear evidence to determine the mental condition of 'appellant. This was granted, and a separate trial was had. In response to special issues submitting this matter, the jury returned a verdict against appellant, and judgment was entered accordingly. Motion for a new trial was filed and overruled, and notice of appeal to this court given and entered of record. It thus appears that appellant is attempting to appeal direct from ,a finding in the lower court that he was mentally competent td make a rational defense.
The jurisdiction of the Court of Criminal Appeals is fixed by the Constitution, and is "'limited in article 5, § 5, to "all criminal cases of whatever grade, with such exceptions and under such regulations as may be prescribed by law." There is neither constitutional provision nor statutory authority which would expressly or impliedly in our opinion give the right of appeal from an order of the character noted above. Manifestly it does not amount to the conviction of an offense. It is not a "criminal ease" and we therefore cannot entertain jurisdiction of this appeal. 4 Tex. Jur. Par. 6; Millikin v. Jeffrey, 10S Tex. Cr. R. 84, 299 S. W. 435; De Silvia v. State. 98 Tex. Cr. R. 499, 267 S. AV. .271; Ex parte Morris, 96 Tex. Cr. R. 256, 257 S. W. 894; Holland v. State, 52 Tex. Cr. R. 160, 105 Tex. Cr. R. 812; Darnell v. State, 24 Tex. App. 6, 5 S. W.. 522.
The question of whether or not the proceeding above was ancillary to the murder case and its issues of law might therefore be brought up with the main case is not here presented. We pass only on the right to appeal direct from a finding that he was mentally competent to conduct a rational defense.
Believing that this court is without jurisdiction, the appeal is dismissed.
PER CURIAM.
The foreging opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by the Court.'