Court Opinion

ID: 3103656
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 05:30:06.558215+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:46:02.580955
License: Public Domain

REVERSE and RENI)ER; and Opinion Filed July 17, 2013.

                                                 In The
                                         QLiUr1   of Aipea1e
                                .!FiftIT Oiøtrirt of exaii at a1bni

                                       No, 05-12-01i$1-CV

       MAYOR MIKE RAWLINGS, COUNCILMEMBER JERRY R. ALLEN,
COUNCILMEMBER MONICA R ALON/O, COUNCILMEMBER IENNELL AtKINS,
  COUNCILMENIIWR DWAINE R CARAWAY COUNCILMI MBER CAROLYN R
    DAVIS, COUNCILMFMBER 5(0’! [GRIGGS COUN( ILMF NIB! R SANDY
   RE’i’ SON, COUNCILMEMBI R NONCIEL JONES 1111 1 (OLNCILMEMB! R
   1
   (
 NGEL 4 HUN’! (OIiNCILM} MBER DELIA lASSO, (OUN( ILME NIBER SHE! F 1k
     KAI)4NF COUNCILMEMBER LINI)A KOOP COUN( II MEMBER ANN
     MARGOLIN, AND COUNCILMEMBER PAULINE MEDRANO, Appellants
                                 V.
       TIMOTE() F. GONZALEZ, DAVID INDORF, RUTH C. LOGAN, AND
                      CHERYL WILLIAMS, Appellees

                       On Appeal from the 191st judicial District Court
                                    Dallas County, Texas
                             Trial Court Cause No. 12-09605-j

                                            OPINION
                           Before Justices O’Neill, Francis, and Fillmore
                                    Opinion by Justice O’Neill
       In this interlocutory appeal, appellants complain of the trial court’s order denying their

plea to the jurisdiction. We reverse the trial court’s order and dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.

                                           BACKGROUND

       Appellees were appointed judges of the Municipal Court in the City of Dallas by the

Dallas City Council on June 23, 2010, to a two-year term ending May 31, 2012. See Dallas,

Tex., Ordinance 27928 (June 23, 2010).            All had previously served as both full-time and

associate judges prior to their 2010 appointments. Under the Texas Government Code and the
Dallas City Charter, municipal court judges are evaluated by the City Council and considered for

reappointment every two years. See     Thx,   GoV’T   Coou ANN, § 300006 (West 2004); Dallas,

Tex, Charter ch. VIII, § 4. None of the appellees were reappointed when their terms expired in

2012, although all were candidates for reappointment. We refer to appellees as the Candidates.

Alleging that the 2012 selection process violated applicable law, the Candidates brought suit

seeking an injunction and a declaratory judgment.

       The Candidates contend that appellants, the Mayor and members of the Dallas City

Council (the Council), conducted the 2012 selection process for municipal judges in violation of

the Dallas City Code and the Dallas Transportation Code. The Candidates’ petition alleges that

section l35,2(e) of the Dallas City Code requires the Council to select municipal judges only

from a list of nominees recommended by a “Judicial Nominating Commission” (JNC) created

under section 13-5i of the code. Dallas, Texas City Code § 13-5A, 135.2. The Candidates do

not dispute that their names were included on the list of 18 nominees submitted by the iNC to the

“Ad Hoc Legislative Committee” of the City Council in accordance with the code.               They

contend, however, that the committee “contacted individuals who were not on the list of 18

candidates,” “interviewed an additional four (4) candidates with no explanation or justification,”

and “made the unprecedented and illegal decision to recommend additional candidates of their

own choosing”

       The Candidates also allege that in violation of the Texas Transportation Code, appellants

asked nominees to comment in writing on a list of recommendations proposed by the ad hoc

legislative committee. According to the Candidates’ petition, these recommendations required

the Candidates to “commit to results and predispose of cases,” and specifically to require that

“the judges commit to assessing maximum fines or maximum deferred fees [inj all traffic cases,

regardless of the merits or facts of the case, as a condition to their appointment.” The Candidates

                                               —2
pleaded that this requirement violated section 720.002(b2) of the Texas Transportation Code,

which “prohibits requiring or suggesting to a municipal court judge that the judge is required or

expected to collect a predetermined amount of money                                 from    persons convicted of traffic offenses

within a specified period.” See TEX. TRANSP, CODE ANN. § 720.002(b)(2) (West 201 1). The

Candidates allege that the Council then voted to appoint the applicants who agreed to predispose

of cases.

           The Candidates’ petition also includes an allegation that their due process rights were

violated when appellants “violated their own procedural rules by voting on a slate’ of proposed

municipal judges when the appointment of municipal judges was not on the consent agenda but

instead one of the items for individual consideration.”

           In their petition, the Candidates sought a judgment declaring that the Council had

violated the Texas Transportation Code and the Dallas City Code, and an injunction prohibiting

the Council from publishing the ordinance appointing municipal judges for the term beginning in

2012. The Council filed a plea to the jurisdiction, which the trial court denied. The ordinance

appointing municipal judges for the term beginning in 2012 was published on August 25, 2012.

The record reflects that the trial court initially enjoined the publication of the ordinance, then

granted the Council’s motion to dissolve the temporary restraining order on August 27, 2012.

The only relief now sought by the Candidates is a declaration that the selection process violated

applicable law.’              They seek neither to set aside the 2012 appointments nor to obtain

reappointments for themselves.

        After the trial court denied the Council’s plea to the jurisdiction, the Candidates filed an amended petition seeking an ex parte temporary
restraining order against the publication of the ordinance. In addition to requesting injunctive relief to prevent the Council from taking any action
to publish the ordinance appointing the judges, the amended petition alleges that the Council’s actions constituted ultra vires conduct, and
specifically requests a declaration that the Council violated the Texas Constitution. The conduct complained of was not changed in the amended
petition. As noted, the trial court first granted then dissolved the temporary restraining order requested in the amended petition.

                                                                       —3—
                                               Issui.s

       The Council alleges in four issues that the trial court erred by denying the plea to the

jurisdiction. The Council’s first issue generally challenges the trial court’s denial of the plea. In

its second issue, the Council alleges that the Candidates lack standing to litigate their request for

injunctive and declaratory relief, In its third issue, the Council contends that the Candidates’

request for injunctive and declaratory relief is moot. In its fourth issue, the Council argues that it

maintains immunity from suit because the Candidates have not alleged an ultra vires act to

establish subjectmatter jurisdiction.

                                        STANDARD OF REVIEW

       A plea to the jurisdiction is a dilatory plea by which a party challenges a court’s authority

to determine the subject matter of the action. Bland Indep. Sch, Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547,

554 (Tex. 2000), overruled on other grounds, Tex, Dep ‘t of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda, 133
S.W.3d 217 (Tex. 2004). The existence of subject matter jurisdiction is a question of law; thus,

we review de novo the trial judge’s ruling   Ofl   a plea to the jurisdiction. City of MeKinney v. OH

Skyiine/380, L.P., 375 S.W.3d 580, 582 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.) (citing Miranda, 133
S.W.3d at 226). In performing our review, we do not look to the merits of the plaintiff’s case,

but consider oniy the pleadings and the evidence pertinent to the jurisdictional inquiry. OHBA

C’orp, v. City of Carrollton, 203 S.W.3d 1, 4 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, pet. denied) (citing

Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 227, and C’nt, of Cameron v. Brown, 80 S.W.3d 549, 555 (Tex. 2002)).

We construe the pleadings liberally in favor of the plaintiff. City of McKinney, 375 S.W.3d at

582. But if the pleadings affirmatively negate the existence of jurisdiction, the plea may be

granted without allowing opportunities to amend. Id.
                                           APPLICABLE LAW

         The doctrine of standing identifies those suits appropriate for judicial resolution. Brown

v. Todd, 53 S.W.3d 297, 305 (Tex. 2001).            Standing is a prerequisite of subject matter

jurisdiction, and its absence may be raised by a plea to the jurisdiction. Blue, 34 S.W.3d at 553—

54. Under Texas law, standing limits subject matter jurisdiction to cases involving a distinct

injury to the plaintiff and “a real controversy between the parties, which     .   .   .   will be actually

determined by the judicial declaration sought.” OHBA Corp., 203 S.W.3d at 4 (quoting Brown,

53 5,W,3d at 305). “For standing, a plaintiff must be personally aggrieved; his alleged injury

must he concrete and particularized, actual or imminent, not hypothetical.” DaimierC’hrvsler

Corp.   V.   Inman, 252 S.W.3d 299, 304—05 (Tex. 2008) (footnotes and citations omitted).

         For a plaintiff to have standing, a controversy must exist between the parties at every

stage of the legal proceedings, including the appeal. Williams v. Lara, 52 S.W.3d 171, 184 (Tex.

2001). “If a controversy ceases to exist—’the issues are no longer “live” or the parties lack a

legally cognizable interest in the outcome’—the case becomes moot.” Id. (quoting Murphy v.

Hunt, 455 U.S. 478, 481 (1982)), If a case becomes moot, the parties lose standing to maintain

their claims.      Id.   An exception to the mootness doctrine exists for disputes “capable of

repetition, yet evading review” where (1) the challenged act is of such short duration that

appellant cannot obtain review before the issue becomes moot, and (2) there is a reasonable

expectation that the same action will occur again if the issue is not considered. Blum v. Lanier,

997 S.W.2d 259, 264 (Tex. 1999). This exception applies oniy in rare circumstances. Williams,
52 S.W.3d at 184.

         A declaratory judgment, the only relief sought here by the Candidates, is “appropriate

only if a justiciable controversy exists as to the rights and status of the parties and the

controversy will be resolved by the declaration sought.” OHBA Corp., 203 S.W.3d at 5 (citing

                                                 —5—
Bonham State Bank v. Beadle, 907 S.W.2d 465, 467 (Tex, 1995)). To constitute a justiciable

controversy, there must exist a real and substantial controversy involving a genuine conflict of

tangible interests and not merely a theoretical dispute. Id. We may not render advisory opinions

under the declaratory judgments act, Thx. Ass ‘ii i Business v. Thx. Air Control Bd, 852 S,W,2d

440, 444 (Tex. 1993) (citing TEX. Civ, PRAC. & REM, CODE       § 37.001—Mi 1). “The distinctive
feature of an advisory opinion is that it decides an abstract question of law without binding the

parties.” Id. As the court explained in Texas Association of Business, ‘lain opinion issued in a

case brought by a party without standing is advisory because rather than remedying an actual or

imminent harm, the judgment addresses only a hypothetical injury.”           hL   The declaratory

judgment act does not give courts the power to rule on hypothetical or contingent situations, or to

determine questions not then essential to the decision of an actual controversy, even though the

questions may require adjudication in the future. Id. A declaratory judgment action against the

government seeking a declaration of a party’s rights and status under a statute is not barred by

governmental immunity, however.       City Qf Seagoville v. Lytie, 227 S.W.3d 401, 410 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.).

       A violation of section 720.002 of the Texas Transportation Code by an elected official is

misconduct and a ground for removal from office. TEx. TRANSP, CODE ANN. § 702,002(e) (West

2011). Quo warranto proceedings provide the exclusive means by which the public may protect

itself from unlawful occupancy of a public office. Norvilie v. Parnell, 118 S.W.3d 503, 505

(Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, pet. denied).

                                           DISCUSSION

       The Candidates contend that they “are seeking a declaratory judgment that violations of

not only the Texas Transportation Code, but also the Dallas City Code, City of Dallas Rules of

Procedure, and Texas Constitution were committed by [the Council].” The Candidates contend

                                               —6—
that they were “personally aggrieved” by these violations, and that they have a “personal stake in

the controversy:’ But they do not explain how a judgment that declares the Council violated the

law would resolve any controversy regarding the Candidates’ rights and status.            See OHBA

corp., 203 S.W.3d at 5.
          In fact, the Candidates disclaim any effect on their rights and status. First, (hey disclaim

any intent to challenge the right of either their newlyappointed successors or the Council to hold

office, in response to the Council’s argument that a quo warranto proceeding is the exclusive

remedy to test the right of a public official to hold office. See Orix capital Markets, LLC v.

American Realt Trust, The., 356 S.W.3d 748, 752—53 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, pet. denied)

(collecting cases regarding use of quo warranto proceedings).

          Second, the Candidates aver that they do not seek any relief that would reinstate them as

judges. Their petition does not include a request for reappointment or reinstatement as municipal

judges.     The Candidates concede that they were included on the list of 18 nominees

recommended by the JNC to the ad hoc legislative committee, and they do not claim any further

right to appointment under any statutory, code, or charter provision. And as we have noted in

Robinson v. Neeley, 192 S.W,3d 904, 910 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, no pet.), any “recognizable

interest” in a public official’s position is limited “to those currently serving.” The Candidates do

not argue that they hold any recognizable interest in the office of municipal judge, and they do

not seek a declaration as to their “rights and status” as caididates for municipal judgeships. See

Transp. Ins.   Co. v. WH Cleaners, Inc., 372 S.W.3d 223, 227 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.)
(Texas Declaratory Judgments Act gives Texas courts power to declare rights, status, and other

legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be claimed).

          Third, the Candidates deny that they are challenging any ordinance. They make this

argument in response to the Council’s contention that a party challenging an ordinance must

                                                  —7—
allege some injury distinct from that sustained by the public at large. See Brown, 53 S.W.3d at

302 (in challenging governmental acts, “blur decisions have always required a plaintiff to allege

some injury distinct from that sustained by the public at large”). The Candidates argue, however,

that “the many violations of the laws and statutes which resulted in the publication of the

ordinance might well render the Ordinance mentioned by [the Councill null and void as the

result of the declaratory judgment sought by [the Candidatesj”

       In disclaiming any challenge to any official’s right to hold office, any challenge to any

ordinance, or any claim of right to reappointment, the Candidates have failed to allege a

justiciable controversy as to the rights and status of the parties which will be resolved by the

declaration they seek, See OHBA C’orp., 203 S.W.3d at 5. The Candidates concede that the

2012 ordinance appointing municipal judges has already been published, but contend that their

claims are not moot under the “capable of repetition yet evading review” doctrine. See Williams,

52 S.W3d at 184. We disagree. In order to rely on this doctrine, the Candidates “must prove

that    a reasonable expectation exists that the same complaining party will be subjected to the

same action again” See id.     Even if we assume that each of the Candidates will apply for

appointments to municipal judgeships in 2014, and further assume that the 2012 selection

process was conducted in violation of the Texas Transportation Code and the Dallas City Code,

we cannot assume that the 2014 ad hoc committee or the 2014 Council will violate the then

applicable law in making the 2014 appointments.         Compare id. (court would not assume

plaintiffs would commit another crime and thus be subject to allegedly unconstitutional operation

of county jail facility in the future) with Bium, 997 S.W.2d at 264 (where trial court had

sustained election contest and ordered new election, “capable of repetition” exception to

mootness applied); see also Williams, 52 S.W.3d at 184 (quoting O’Shea v. Littleton, 414 U.S.
488, 496—96 (1974)) (“Past exposure to illegal conduct does not in itself show a present case or

                                              —8—
controversy regarding injunctive relief.     if unaccompanied by any continuing, present adverse

effects.”); S. Methodist Univ. v. Times Herald I’rinting Co., 729 S.W2d 129, 130—31 (Tex.

App.—DaIlas 1987, no writ) (trial court has no authority to issue declaratory judgment where

“litigants are seeking, in effect, advisory opinions requiring the court to apply the law to

hypothetical facts which are not certain to occur”).

       In addition, then, as now, the Candidates will have no recognizable interest in a

municipal judgeship if they are not currently holding the office. See Robinson, 192 S.W.3d at

910. The Council is not required to appoint them to judgeships. The only question presented to

the trial court is an abstract one about the 2012 selection process. Regardless of the resolution of

that question, any declaration the trial court could make would not resolve any controversy about

the Candidates’ rights or status. See Pinnacle Gas Treating, Inc. v. Read, 104 S.W.3d 544, 545

(Tex. 2003) (subject to some exceptions, a case becomes moot when a court’s actions cannot

affect the rights of the parties): Brinkley v. Tex. Lottery Comm ‘n, 986 S,W,2d 764, 767—68 (Tex.

App.—Austin 1999, no pet.) (opinion is advisory when judgment sought would not constitute

specific relief to a litigant or affect legal relations). We sustain the Council’s first three issues.

Because of our disposition of those issues, we need not address the fourth issue.

       We also conclude that the jurisdictional defects in the Candidates’ petition cannot be

cured by granting the Candidates the opportunity to amend. See Save Our Springs Alliance v.

City of Austin, 149 S.W.3d 674, 686 (Tex. App.—Austin 2004, no pet.) (if pleadings

affirmatively negate existence of jurisdiction, then plea to jurisdiction may be granted without

allowing plaintiff opportunity to amend). Under both their original and amended petitions, the

Candidates sought an injunction preventing the publication of the ordinance appointing

municipal judges for the term commencing in 2012, and declarations that the selection process

violated applicable law. Regardless of any repleading of the Candidates’ allegations, the trial

                                                —9—
court can no longer enjoin the publication of the ordinance or prevent the judges appointed by

the ordinance from taking their oaths of office, because these events have already occurred, The

Candidates’ remaining request is for an advisory declaration that the 2012 selection process was

in violation of applicable law, The jurisdictional defects we have discussed cannot be cured by

amendment of the Candidates’ pleadings. See id.

                                          CoNcLusioN

       Regardless of whether we denominate the issue as mootness, or lack of standing, or

seeking an advisory opinion, the trial court lacked jurisdiction to determine the Candidates’

claims. The Council’s plea to the jurisdiction should have been granted. We reverse the trial

court’s order denying the Council’s plea to the jurisdiction and render judgment granting the plea

to the jurisdiction and dismissing the Candidates’ claims.

                                                   /Michael J. O’Neill!
                                                   MICHAEL J. O’NEILL
                                                   JUSTICE

121 181F.P05

                                               —10—
                                    Qtuiirt nt Appeah
                        .Fiftti Utrirt nf iexwi zt Iat1a
                                        JUDGMENT

MAYOR MIKE RAWLINGS,                                  On Appeal from the 191St Judicial District
COUNCILMEMI3ER JERRY R. ALLEN,                        Court, Dallas County, Texas
COUNCILMEMI3ER MONICA R.                              Trial Court Cause No. 12-096054.
ALONZO, COUNCILMEMBER                                 Opinion delivered by Justice ONeill,
TENNELL ATKINS, COUNCILMEMBER                         Justices Francis and Fillmore participating.
DWAINE R. CARAWAY,
COUNCILMEMBER CAROLYN R.
DAVIS, COUNCILMEMI3ER SCOTT
GRIGGS, COUNCILMEMBER SANDY
GREYSON, COUNC1LMEMBER
VONCIEL JONES HILL,
COUNCILMEMBER ANGELA HUNT,
COUNCILMEMBER DELIA JASSO,
COUNCILMEMBER SHEFFIE KADANE,
COUNCILMEMI3ER LINDA KOOP,
COUNCILMEMI3ER ANN MARGOLIN,
AND COUNCILMEMBER PAULINE
MEDRANO, Appellants

No, 05-12-01181-CV          V.

TIMOTEO F. GONZALEZ, DAVID
INDORF, RUTH C. LOGAN, AND
CHERYL WILLIAMS, Appellees

        In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the August 24, 2012 order of the trial
court is REVERSED and judgment is RENDERED granting the plea to the jurisdiction of
appellants Mayor Mike Rawlings, Councilmember Jerry R. Allen, Councilmember Monica R.
Alonzo, Councilmember Tennell Atkins, Councilmember Dwaine R. Caraway, Councilmember
Carolyn R. Davis, Councilmember Scott Griggs, Councilmember Sandy Greyson,
Councilmember Vonciel Jones Hill, Councilmember Angela Hunt, Councilmember Delia Jasso,

                                               —11—
Councilmember Sheffie Kadane, Councilmember Linda Koop, Cotmciimemher Ann Margolin,
and Councilmember Pauline Medrano and dismissing the claims of appellees Tinoteo F,
Gonzalez, David Indorf, Ruth C. Logan. and Cheryl Williams for want of subject matter
jurisdiction.

        It is ORI)ERED that appellants Mayor Mike Rawlings, Councilmember Jerry R. Alien,
Councilmember Monica R. Alonzo, Councihneniher Tennell Atkins, Couneilmember Dwaine R.
Caraway, Councilmember Carolyn R. Davis, Councilmember Scott Griggs, Councilmember
Sandy Greyson, Councilmember Vonciel Jones Hill, Councilmember Angela Hunt,
Councilmember Delia Jasso, Councilmember Sheffie Kadane, Councilmember Linda Koop,
Cotincilmember Ann Margolin, and Councilmember Pauline Medrano recover their costs of this
appeal from appellees Timoteo F. Gonzalez, David Indorf, Ruth C. Logan, and Cheryl Williams.

                        th
                        17
Judgment entered this        day of July, 2013.

                                                     /Michael J. ONeiIl/
                                                     MICHAEL J. ONEILL
                                                     JUSTICE

                                                  —12—