Court Opinion

ID: 9350443
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-12-27 10:08:41.700956+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:08.310912
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                      NO. 03-22-00682-CR
                                      NO. 03-22-00686-CR

                                  In re Jason Eric Lenderman

                    ORIGINAL PROCEEDING FROM BELL COUNTY

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION

               Appellant Jason Eric Lenderman pleaded guilty on October 17, 2022 to

possession of methamphetamine in an amount of four grams or more but less than 200 grams.

See Tex. Health & Safety Code § 481.115(d). He has not yet been sentenced. He has filed two

applications for writ of habeas corpus contending that he received ineffective assistance of

counsel during the plea proceedings, that his guilty plea was involuntary, that his due process

rights were violated, that the trial court “simply ignored” his motion to suppress, and that

evidence in the case has been “severely tainted.” He asks that we “remove” his guilty plea, order

an evidentiary hearing, and allow him to proceed to trial.

               “The Texas Constitution grants courts of appeals original jurisdiction only where

specifically prescribed by law.” Ex parte Braswell, 630 S.W.3d 600, 601 (Tex. App.—Waco

2021, no pet.); see Tex. Const. art. V, § 6. Our original jurisdiction to issue a writ of habeas

corpus is limited to those cases where a person’s liberty is restrained because the person has

violated an order, judgment, or decree entered in a civil case. Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.221(d);
In re Reece, 341 S.W.3d 360, 364 n.3 (Tex. 2011) (orig. proceeding). Consequently, we lack

original habeas corpus jurisdiction in criminal matters. 1       Braswell, 630 S.W.3d at 601–02;

Queen v. State, 212 S.W.3d 619, 623 (Tex. App.—Austin 2006, no pet.); see Chavez v. State,

132 S.W.3d 509, 510 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.) (“A court of appeals does

not have original habeas corpus jurisdiction in felony cases.”); Dodson v. State, 988 S.W.2d 833,

835 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1999, no pet.) (“The courts of appeals have no original habeas

corpus jurisdiction in criminal matters; their jurisdiction is appellate only.”).

                Accordingly, we dismiss the proceedings for want of jurisdiction. 2

                                               __________________________________________
                                               Edward Smith, Justice

Before Chief Justice Byrne, Justices Triana and Smith

Filed: December 23, 2022

Do Not Publish

       1   “Only the Court of Criminal Appeals possesses the authority to grant relief in a post-
conviction habeas corpus proceeding where there is a final felony conviction.” Padieu v. Court
of Appeals of Texas., Fifth Dist., 392 S.W.3d 115, 117 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (orig. proceeding)
(quoting Ex parte Alexander, 685 S.W.2d 57, 60 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985); see Tex. Code Crim.
Proc. art. 11.07 § 3 (providing that post-conviction applications for writs of habeas corpus, for
felony cases in which death penalty was not assessed, must be filed in court of original
conviction and made returnable to CCA).
       2   In addition, all pending motions are dismissed as moot.
                                                   2