Court Opinion

ID: 2889004
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-07 20:15:03.034001+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:25.739761
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NO. 07-03-0165-CV

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                       FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                       AT AMARILLO

                                          PANEL A

                                        MAY 8, 2003

                          ______________________________

                       IN RE EARL STEVEN BROWN, RELATOR

                        _________________________________

Before JOHNSON, C.J., and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.

                                          OPINION

       This is an original habeas corpus proceeding. Relator Earl Steven Brown seeks

relief from confinement under the judgment of contempt and order of commitment entered

by the trial court. We deny relator’s petition.

       Relator’s former wife, real party in interest Amy Deann Brown, filed a Motion for

Enforcement by Contempt, alleging that relator had failed to obey the trial court’s orders

contained in their Final Decree of Divorce dated January 11, 2001, by, among other things,

failing to pay child support and maintaining health insurance coverage. At a hearing on

April 1, 2003, relator acknowledged that he had not made the payments or maintained the

insurance.
       At the close of the hearing, the trial court found relator in contempt and imposed

confinement both for criminal and civil contempt, sentencing relator to six months in the

Potter County Jail, and to remain thereafter in confinement until he purges himself of civil

contempt by paying the arrearage plus attorney’s fees and costs. The court directed real

party in interest’s counsel to prepare an order. Relator was taken into custody following

the hearing and remains confined in jail.

       The court’s order, entitled Order Holding Respondent in Contempt and for

Commitment to County Jail and containing both the judgment of contempt and the

commitment order, was signed April 2, 2003.

       Relator’s original habeas corpus proceeding in this court is a collateral attack on

the contempt order. Ex parte Dustman, 538 S.W.2d 409, 410 (Tex. 1976). Therefore,

relator may be relieved of that order only if the judgment is void. Id.; Ex parte Thetford, 369
S.W.2d 924, 925 (Tex. 1963); Ex parte Scariati, 988 S.W.2d 270, 272 (Tex.App.–Amarillo

1998, orig. proceeding). When collaterally attacked in a habeas corpus proceeding, a

judgment is presumed valid until the relator has discharged his burden showing otherwise.

Ex parte Occhipenti, 796 S.W.2d 805, 808-09 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, orig.

proceeding).

       Relator presents four issues, arguing: (1) that the contempt order is void because

it was not reduced to writing and signed by the trial court within a reasonable and short

time after his confinement; that the criminal contempt portion of the order is void because

                                              2
the trial court did not admonish relator regarding (2) his right to a jury trial and (3) his right

against self-incrimination; and (4) that the civil contempt portion of the order is void

because relator does not have the present ability to make the payments necessary to

purge himself of civil contempt.

       Due process does not permit a person to be confined for contempt committed

outside the court’s presence based only on the court’s verbal order; a written judgment of

contempt and a written order of commitment are required. Ex parte Puckitt, 322 S.W.2d
597 (Tex. 1959). When, as here, the written order of commitment and the judgment of

contempt on which it is based are not available for the court’s signature at the time of the

hearing, the court must sign them without undue delay, within a “short and reasonable

time” following the verbal commitment order. Ex parte Calvillo Amaya, 748 S.W.2d 224,

225 (Tex. 1988); see Ex parte Morgan, 886 S.W.2d 829, 831 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 1994,

orig. proceeding).

       In Calvillo Amaya, the Supreme Court found that a three-day delay from a verbal

commitment order at 5:15 p.m. on a Friday until the signing of a written judgment and order

the following Monday was not a short and reasonable time. Calvillo Amaya, 748 S.W.2d

at 225. Later decisions have applied the “short and reasonable time” standard. See Ex

parte Jordan, 865 S.W.2d 459 (Tex. 1993) (three-day delay too long); Ex parte Seligman,

9 S.W.3d 452, 454 (Tex.App.–San Antonio 1999, orig. proceeding) (five-day delay too

long); In re Markowitz, 25 S.W.3d 1, 4 (Tex.App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1998, orig.

proceeding) (seven-day delay too long); Ex parte Whitehead, 908 S.W.2d 68, 70

                                                3
(Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, orig. proceeding) (thirty-day delay too long); Ex parte

Morgan, 886 S.W.2d at 832 (four-day delay too long); Ex parte Alford, 827 S.W.2d 72, 74

(Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding) (forty-day delay too long).

       In In re Butler, the court held that counsel’s request for a period of less than 24

hours to prepare the commitment order involved a short and reasonable time. 45 S.W.3d
268, 271 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, orig. proceeding); See also Ex parte Hogan,

916 S.W.2d 82 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, orig. proceeding).

       Here, the combined judgment of contempt and order of commitment was signed

during the calendar day following the trial court’s verbal order for relator’s confinement.1

On the record before us, we hold that such a delay was both short and reasonable.

Relator’s first issue is overruled.

       Relator next contends that the criminal contempt portions of the court’s order are

void because of the court’s failure to admonish him concerning his right to a trial by jury.

In criminal contempt proceedings, a contemnor has the right to a jury trial if the contempt

is a serious offense, but not if it is a petty offense. Ex parte Werblud, 536 S.W.2d 542, 547

(Tex. 1976). Relator does not specify whether he asserts the right to a jury trial under the

United States Constitution or the Texas Constitution. He relies, however, on Ex parte

       1
         The record does not reflect the time on April 2 at which the order was signed, only
that it was filed with the district clerk at 4:56 p.m. on that date. In their briefs and at oral
argument, the parties make reference to the times of day various events during the case
occurred. Although we have no reason to believe the times represented to us by counsel
are inaccurate, we are bound by the record before us.

                                               4
Sproull, 815 S.W.2d 250 (Tex. 1991), for his assertion that he was faced with a potentially

serious punishment, and was thus entitled to a jury trial.

       Sproull, a per curiam opinion that contains the statement “A charge for which

confinement may exceed six months is serious,” does not specify a constitutional provision

as the basis for either its statement or its decision. It simply cites Ex parte Werblud and Ex

parte Griffin, 682 S.W.2d 261 (Tex.1984).2 Both Werblud and Griffin are bottomed on

rights granted by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. We, therefore,

consider Brown’s claims as asserting Sixth Amendment rights.3              Issues regarding

authoritative laws, rules and remedies designed to secure federally-guaranteed rights are

federal questions. Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 21, 87 S. Ct. 824, 826, 17 L. Ed. 2d
705, 709 (1967). We are bound by United States Supreme Court case law interpreting the

federal constitution. See State v. Guzman, 959 S.W.2d 631, 633 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998).

       Werblud provides an extraction of rules from salient United States Supreme Court

cases considering the Sixth Amendment’s parameters for jury trial requirements: (1) “petty”

contempt matters may be tried without a jury while “serious” contempt cases entail the right

       2
        On its facts, Sproull does not stand for the proposition that any contempt case
involving possible confinement longer than six months is serious; the contemnor in Sproull
was sentenced to 60 days confinement for each of 136 violations, totaling over 22 years
confinement. Sproull, 815 S.W.2d at 250.
       3
         Because relator does not separately brief his Texas constitutional claim, if any is
being made, or argue that the Texas Constitution provides more protection to him in this
matter than does the United States Constitution, we need not address any possible state
constititional claim separately. See Brown v. State, 943 S.W.2d 35, 36 n.3 (Tex.Crim.App.
1997); Johnson v. State, 853 S.W.2d 527, 533 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992).

                                              5
to a jury; (2) criminal contempt in and of itself is not a serious offense absent legislative

declaration to the contrary; (3) lacking legislative authorization of more serious

punishment, a sentence of as much as six months in prison may be imposed without a jury

trial; (4) but imprisonment for longer than six months is impermissible unless the

contemnor has been given the opportunity for a jury trial, see Werblud, 536 S.W.2d at 546-

47, then straightforwardly states that “Cases of criminal contempt, where the sentence

actually imposed does not exceed six months imprisonment, are exempted from the

requirements of a jury trial.” Id. at 547, citing Taylor v. Hayes, 418 U.S. 488, 94 S. Ct. 2697,

41 L. Ed. 2d 897 (1974). The opinion goes on to note, “Texas is in accord with these

distinctions between petty and serious offenses.” Werblud, 536. S.W.2d. at 547.

       Taylor concerns a factual situation in which the contemnor was found guilty and

sentenced on eight counts of contempt. The sentences originally imposed were to run

consecutively and totaled over four years confinement. The trial court later amended its

judgment, resulting in the sentences running concurrently, so the confinement imposed

was for no more than six months. Taylor, 418 U.S. at 495-96, 94 S.Ct. at 2701-02, 41
L. Ed. at 906. The United States Supreme Court overruled Taylor’s claim that the Sixth

Amendment required he be afforded a jury trial. In doing so, the Supreme Court reaffirmed

“The thrust of our decisions” on the issue: “[I]n the absence of legislative authorization of

serious penalties for contempt, a State may choose to try any contempt without a jury if it

determines not to impose a sentence longer than six months.” 418 U.S. at 496, 94 S.Ct.

at 2702, 41 L. Ed. at 906.

                                              6
       The Texas contempt statute at the time Werblud was decided provided punishment

for contempt of court as a fine of not more than $500 or confinement in the county jail for

not more than six months, or both, and was intended to keep contempt punishments within

the petty offense category. See Werblud, 536 S.W.2d at 547. The current statute

continues the proviso that punishment for contempt of court other than a justice or

municipal court is a fine of not more than $500 or confinement in the county jail for not

more than six months, or both. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 21.002(b) (Vernon 1988).

       The analysis in Werblud relies directly on United States Supreme Court case law

which must govern our decision in this matter. Werblud states clearly the applicable

dividing line between petty and serious contempt: unless the legislature has authorized a

serious punishment for contempt (which the Texas legislature has not), the punishment

imposed determines whether the contempt is petty or serious, not the punishment possible.

See Werblud, 536 S.W.2d at 546-47. See also Ex parte Casillas, 25 S.W.3d 296, 299

(Tex.App.--San Antonio 2000, orig. proceeding). 4

       The punishment imposed on relator falls on the petty crime side of the line. He was

not entitled to a jury trial, and he was not entitled to be admonished otherwise. Relator’s

second issue is overruled.

       4
         To any degree that decisions of other courts of appeals reflect a different view of
this issue, we must disagree with our sister courts. See Ex parte York, 899 S.W.2d 47, 49
(Tex.App.–Waco 1995, orig. proceeding) (serious offense is one for which the party is at
risk of confinement longer than six months, based on the pleadings in the case); Ex parte
Howell, 843 S.W.2d 241 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding) (a charge
for which confinement may exceed six months is serious); Cf. Ex parte McNemee, 605
S.W.2d 353, 356 (Tex.App–El Paso 1980, orig. proceeding).

                                             7
       Relator’s third issue, presented summarily in part of one sentence of his petition,

asserts that he was deprived of due process of law by the failure of the trial court to

admonish him “regarding his right against self-incrimination.”5 The Fifth Amendment

privilege against self-incrimination applies in criminal contempt proceedings.           See

Werblud, at 547. Relator could not have been compelled to testify at the hearing on the

motion for enforcement in violation of that privilege. But relator was not compelled to

testify. Relator was represented by counsel at the contempt hearing. The trial court began

the hearing by simply instructing all parties who intended to testify to stand and raise their

right hands, at which time they were sworn. Real party in interest Amy Deann Brown was

called to testify by her counsel. After she testified, her counsel testified concerning

attorney fees and announced that Ms. Brown rested. Thereupon, without any comment by

the trial court, relator’s counsel called relator as a witness. Among other matters, relator

testified that he understood the trial court could hold him in contempt and that if the court

did not put him in jail, he was going to have to change his lifestyle and go to work at a job

that would allow him to pay his child support.

       Whether the Fifth Amendment is implicated when an individual testifies does not

depend on whether the witness made a knowing decision to testify, but on why he or she

chose to testify. See Lucero v. State, 91 S.W.3d 814, 818 (Tex.App.--Amarillo 2002, no

       5
        Relator’s assertion here suffers, in part, from the same briefing infirmity as his
assertion that his right to a jury trial was violated. He does not specify the constitutional
basis on which he relies. Since he does not urge that the Texas Constitution affords him
more protection than the federal constitution, only his federal Fifth Amendment rights need
be addressed. See Johnson, 853 S.W.2d at 533.

                                              8
pet.) (Quinn, J., concurring) (citing Harrison v. United States, 392 U.S. 219, 223, 88 S. Ct.
2008, 2010, 20 L. Ed. 2d 1047 (1968)). In making such a determination, the totality of the

circumstances must be assessed. If the decision constituted an exercise in free will, then

the Fifth Amendment right to be free from compelled self-incrimination is not implicated.

See id.

       Relator does not contend that he was either directly or indirectly coerced to testify.

He was represented by counsel. He does not assert that he was unaware of his right not

to be compelled to testify, or that he would not have testified had he been admonished of

that right by the trial court. The totality of the circumstances before us compels the

conclusion that relator exercised his free will in deciding to testify. Under such

circumstances the trial court did not err in failing to admonish relator of his Fifth

Amendment rights. Id. Relator’s third issue is overruled.

       Since we have sustained the criminal contempt portion of the trial court’s order, our

consideration of relator’s fourth issue challenging the civil contempt portion is premature.

It may, however, be re-urged in the event he has not purged himself of civil contempt on

the completion of his confinement for criminal contempt. See Ex parte Scariati, 988 S.W.2d

at 273-74.

       Accordingly, we deny relator’s petition, without prejudice to his later re-urging of his

challenge to the civil contempt portion of the trial court’s order.

                                           James T. Campbell

                                              9
                                                 Justice

Reavis, J., dissenting.

                                   NO. 07-03-0165-CV

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                      AT AMARILLO

                                        PANEL A

                                       MAY 8, 2003

                            ______________________________

                          IN RE EARL STEVEN BROWN, RELATOR

                          _________________________________

                                         Dissent

Before JOHNSON, C.J., and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.

       Because I respectfully disagree with the view of my colleagues that presentation of

the order to the trial court for signing was not unduly delayed, I would grant the requested

relief and order relator released from custody.

                                            10
       By his first issue, relator contends the order is void because it was not reduced to

writing and signed within a reasonable and short time after he was confined. Unlike by

issues two, three, and four, by his first issue, relator does not allege trial court error, but

instead contends that presentation of the order to the trial court for signing was unduly

delayed.

       By her motion for enforcement by contempt, real party sought enforcement of child

support orders and relator’s incarceration for not more than 6 months and thereafter

confined until the child support was paid in full together with attorney’s fees and other

relief. On March 4, 2003, the trial court signed its order directing relator to appear and

respond to the motion at a hearing to be held on April 1, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. The reporter’s

record of the hearing held on April 1 shows that at the conclusion of the testimony, the

court announced its decision to find relator in contempt and without setting any timetable,

requested that counsel for real party prepare an order to be signed. According to the

certificate of custody, the Sheriff of Potter County took relator into custody on April 1,

2003. On April 2, 2003, the trial court signed the order of contempt which was filed with

the clerk at 4:56 p.m. According to the response of real party, the order was signed

approximately 30 hours after relator’s confinement.

       By his first issue, relator contends the order for his commitment and of contempt is

void because the rendition of the order was unduly delayed and is void because it was not

reduced to writing and signed within a reasonable and short time after he was confined.

                                              11
Relator argues that the presentation of the order to the trial court for signing was unduly

delayed. Section 21.002 of the Texas Government Code authorizes a court to punish for

contempt. As applicable here, subsection (f) provides that Chapter 157 of the Texas

Family Code shall apply when a person is punished by confinement for contempt of court

for disobedience of a court order to make periodic payments for the support of a child.

Section 157.166(b) sets out the requirements of an order of criminal contempt. Although

these statutes do not specify a time when an order of confinement must be signed, the

Supreme Court has addressed the question at least five times commencing with its

decision in Ex parte Puckitt, 159 Tex. 438, 322 S.W.2d 597 (1959) (orig. proceeding).

       In Puckitt, an original proceeding seeking habeas corpus relief, Puckitt was found

in contempt for failure to pay temporary support and placed in jail by the sheriff until he

purged himself of contempt, but no written order appeared in the record. Holding that a

person may not be imprisoned for contempt without a written judgment of contempt and a

written order of commitment, Puckitt was discharged. Then, in Ex parte Barnett, 600
S.W.2d 252, 256 (Tex. 1980) (orig. proceeding), the Court held:

       [i]t is well-settled that to satisfy due process requirements, both a written
       judgment of contempt and a written commitment order are necessary to
       imprison a person for civil constructive contempt of court.

Although the Court recognized that a trial court can direct that a contemnor be detained

by the sheriff for a “short and reasonable time while the judgment of contempt and order

                                            12
of commitment are prepared, it ordered that Barnett be released because the commitment

order, standing alone without a judgment or order finding relator in contempt, was not

sufficient. (Emphasis added). Next, in Ex parte Strickland, 723 S.W.2d 668, 669 (Tex.

1987) (orig. proceeding), citing Barnett, the Court again held that due process requires

both a written judgment of contempt and a written order of commitment in order to punish

for contempt.

         Later, in Ex parte Calvillo Amaya, 748 S.W.2d 224, 225 (Tex. 1988) (orig.

proceeding), again citing Barnett, the Court said:

      We hold that a three-day delay is not a “short and reasonable time” while the
      documents are being prepared for signature.

(Emphasis added). Then, by another per curiam opinion, in Ex parte Jordan, 865 S.W.2d
459 (Tex. 1993) (orig. proceeding), where Jordan was confined on Friday, June 11, the

court declared the oral commitment order of June 11, as well as the written commitment

order of June 14, void, and Jordan was released from confinement. These five cases

demonstrate that the Court continues to follow its decision in Puckitt, subject only to the

qualified exception recognized in Barnett and Amaya which allows the sheriff to detain a

contemnor for a “short and reasonable time while the judgment of contempt and order of

commitment are being prepared.” (Emphasis added).

                                            13
       In the context of confinement for contempt under Chapter 157 of the Family Code,

without a written order of commitment and order of contempt, these cases establish that

a delay of three days between confinement and rendition of orders will not satisfy “due

process” requirements. Real party candidly acknowledges that an interval of three days

is not acceptable; however, citing In re Butler, 45 S.W.3d 268, 271 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st

Dist.] 2001, orig. proceeding), she contends the 30 hour interval presented here

constitutes a “short and reasonable time.” Butler does not indicate the time when

comtemnor was committed; however, it appears the orders were signed at approximately

9:00 a.m. following Butler’s commitment, which prompted the court to hold:

       when, as here, counsel has requested less than 24 hours to prepare the
       commitment order, the period is a short and reasonable time.

Real party suggests that a determination of what constitutes a “short and reasonable time”

can only be considered on a case-by-case basis; however, in making this decision, an

appellate court may not consider any evidence outside the record. Sabine Offshore

Service, Inc. v. City of Port Arthur, 595 S.W.2d 840, 841 (Tex. 1979); see also Beasley v.

Peters, 870 S.W.2d 191, 194 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 1994, no writ). Also, the determination

of this question does not implicate any trial court fact finding or exercise of discretion.

       Taking judicial notice that the 320th District Court sits only in Potter County and

that the record shows that counsel for real party maintains her law office in Amarillo, it

appears that the preparation and submission of the order was not delayed by travel

                                             14
between counsel’s office and the trial court. Also, the record showing that real party had

adequate time for pre-trial preparation,6 that multiple legal issues or disputed fact

scenarios were not presented and that the history and record of payment of child support

was neatly and orderly set out in the motion for enforcement by contempt and in a form

readily transferable to the order and judgment, in my opinion, the 30 hour delay was not

a “short and reasonable time” for the preparation of the judgment of contempt and order

of commitment. (Emphasis added).

                                         Don H. Reavis
                                           Justice

      6
        See 9 WILLIAM V. DORSANEO, III, TEXAS LITIGATION GUIDE, §133.04[5][c][iii]
(July 2001), discussing pre-trial preparation.

                                           15