Court Opinion

ID: 2821722
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-30 05:21:38.852291+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:26:24.822524
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                          San Antonio, Texas

                                    MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                              No. 04-15-00448-CR

                                       EX PARTE Barry A. BROWN

                                    Original Habeas Corpus Proceeding 1

PER CURIAM

Sitting:          Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
                  Karen Angelini, Justice
                  Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice

Delivered and Filed: July 29, 2015

PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION

           On July 17, 2015, relator Barry A. Brown filed a pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus,

complaining that his current incarceration is illegal and that there has been an excessive delay in

bringing his pending criminal charges to trial. In four underlying criminal proceedings, relator is

charged with multiple counts of the felony offense of aggravated robbery. See TEX. PENAL CODE

ANN. § 29.03 (West 2011).

           This court, as an intermediate court of appeals, is not authorized to grant the relief relator

seeks. Pursuant to section 22.221(d) of the Texas Government Code, in civil matters, a court of

appeals “may issue a writ of habeas corpus when it appears that the restraint of liberty is by virtue

of an order, process, or commitment issued by a court or judge because of the violation of an order,

1
 This proceeding arises out of Cause Nos. 2014CR7116, 2014CR7117, 2014CR7118A and 2014CR7119A, styled
The State of Texas v. Barry A. Brown, pending in the 399th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas, the Honorable
Ray Olivarri presiding.
                                                                                      04-15-00448-CR

judgment, or decree previously made, rendered, or entered by the court or judge in a civil case.”

TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 22.221(d) (West 2004). In criminal matters, however, an intermediate

court of appeals has no original habeas corpus jurisdiction. Chavez v. State, 132 S.W.3d 509, 510

(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.); Watson v. State, 96 S.W.3d 497, 500 (Tex. App.—

Amarillo 2002, pet. ref’d); Dodson v. State, 988 S.W.2d 833, 835 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1999,

no pet.). In criminal matters, the courts authorized to issue writs of habeas corpus are the Texas

Court of Criminal Appeals, district courts, and county courts. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN.

art. 11.05 (West 2015). Therefore, relator’s petition for writ of habeas is dismissed for lack of

jurisdiction.

        In addition, we note that relator has been appointed trial counsel to represent him in

connection with the currently pending criminal charges. We conclude that any original proceeding

on relator’s behalf should be presented by relator’s trial counsel. Relator is not entitled to hybrid

representation. See Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 498 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995) (en banc). The

absence of a right to hybrid representation means relator’s pro se petition presents nothing for this

court’s review. See id.; see also Gray v. Shipley, 877 S.W.2d 806, 806 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] 1994, orig. proceeding).

                                                  PER CURIAM

DO NOT PUBLISH

                                                -2-