Court Opinion

ID: 9771360
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 16:39:56.032301+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:40:56.911669
License: Public Domain

CLINTON, Judge,
concurring.
Every once in a while, it seems, we must revisit a primer of elementary terminology to resolve a current problem. So it is here with the meaning of “render,” “enter” and “issue” when used as terms of art in the law.
A court “renders” a judgment or order when, orally in open court or by written memorandum signed by him and delivered to the clerk, the judge pronounces, states or declares a decision of the law upon given state of facts. Such rendition is a judicial act of pronouncing an ultimate ruling of the court upon the matter submitted for adjudication. Comet Aluminum Company v. Dibrell, 450 S.W.2d 56, at 58-59 (Tex.1970); Ex parte Gnesoulis, 525 S.W.2d 205 (Tex.Civ.App.—Houston [14th] 1975), and cases cited therein at 209; Black’s Law Dictionary (Revised Fourth Edition) (“Black’s”) 625 and 1460.
There is a “substantial distinction ... between the rendition and the entry of a judgment.” Coleman v. Zapp, 105 Tex. 491, 151 S.W. 1040, at 1041 (1912); Ex parte Gnesoulis, supra, at 209; Black’s, supra, at 1460.*
Once rendered, a decision must be “entered” of record; that is, it will be “spread upon the record” of the court by the clerk. As applied to judgments and other appeal-able orders rendered by a trial court, “entered of record” within contemplation of, e.g., Article 42.01, V.A.C.C.P., means “entered in the minutes of the court.” Moore v. State, 156 Tex.Cr.App. 615, 245 S.W.2d 491 (1952); Ellis v. State, 140 Tex.Cr.R. 339, 145 S.W.2d 176 (1940); 25 Tex.Jur.3d 593-594, Criminal Law, § 3638. “[Entry] In general.” Entering it is “the ministerial act by which an enduring evidence of the judicial act is afforded,” Coleman v. Zapp, 105 Tex. 491, 151 S.W. 1040, at 1041 (1912), “thus furnishing external and incontestable evidence of the [decision rendered], and designed to stand as a perpetual memorial of [the court’s] action.” Winstead v. Evan, 33 S.W. 580 (Tex.Civ.App.1896), quoting favorably from Black, Judgments § 106; Black’s, supra, at 625.
To “issue” means to “send out officially; to deliver, for use, or authoritatively.” Black’s, at 964. For example, one duty of a court clerk is to “issue all process” in criminal proceedings. Article 2.24. V.A.C. C.P. Of course, in varied circumstances a magistrate is authorized directly to issue process and orders, including a warrant to arrest an accused admitted to bail and require sufficient bond and security according to the nature of the case, Article 16.16, Id.; to make an order after examining trial committing him to jail, discharging him or admitting him to bail, Article 16.17, Id.; when bail is not given, to make an order committing him to jail, and to issue a commitment accordingly, Article 17.27, Id.
In the instant cause, then, while the judge “rendered” a decision ordering that applicant be denied bail, the order was never “entered of record” and, therefore, there was none for the clerk or judge, as magistrate, to “issue” to the sheriff to hold applicant without bail.
*161Accordingly, I join the opinion of the Court.

 One distinction is in means to correct error, viz:
"The law is now well settled that clerical errors in the 'entry' of a judgment, previously rendered, may he corrected ... by a nunc pro tunc judgment, but that judicial errors in the ‘rendition’ of a judgment may not be so corrected. [Citations omitted). Judicial errors committed in the rendition of judgment must be corrected by appeal, writ of error or bill of review.”
Comet Aluminum Company v. Dibrell, supra, at 58. Compare Tex.R.App.Pro. Rule 36, formerly article 42.06, V.A.C.C.P.