Frederick-William: Van Horn v. The State of Texas Appeal from ... of Ellis County (memorandum opinion by chief justice gray)
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IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS No. 10-16-00179-CR FREDERICK-WILLIAM: VAN HORN, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee From the Municipal Court Ellis County, Texas Municipal Court No. E0004327 MEMORANDUM OPINION Frederick-William: Van Horn has filed an 18 page document. It is difficult to understand the procedural nature of the document, meaning what would be a proper title for the document. It is also difficult to understand the legal arguments made in the document. And it is also difficult to understand the specific relief and the factual and legal basis for the relief sought. The document does not cite to a record.1 We have attached as an appendix to this opinion selected verbatim quotes from the document. While the quoted passages are in the order they occur in the document they are not the complete quote of the entire 1 Van Horn is no stranger to us. We previously dismissed a petition for writ of prohibition. See Van Horn v. State, No. 10-15-00394-CR, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 2605 (Tex. App.—Waco 2016, pet. ref’d). We were confronted with similar problems in that proceeding. We have been able to determine that since the date of our prior opinion, Van Horn sought review by the Court of Criminal Appeals. Discretionary review by the Court of Criminal Appeals was refused. It also appears that the Waxahachie municipal court has now prosecuted Van Horn on the charges filed against him, although we are still unable to determine the precise nature of those charges. It further appears that Van Horn was found guilty of the charged offenses on May 26, 2016. Although the document might appear to be more like a motion for rehearing, it is clear that Van Horn wants to complain about the trial court’s decisions that occurred after we dismissed the petition for writ of prohibition. Due to its extensive legal discussion, although very lacking in factual information or connection of the factual and procedural posture of the case to the legal discussion, the document appears to be a combined notice of appeal and Van Horn’s brief. It will have the broadest possible effect at this juncture if we simply consider it a notice of appeal. discussion of the topic from the document. The purpose of the quoted passages is simply to give the reader a feel for the nature of the document so as to understand this Court’s disposition of the current appeal. Van Horn v. State Page 2 We do not, however, have jurisdiction of direct appeals from municipal court proceedings. See TEX. CONST. Art. V, § 6(a) (“Said Court of Appeals shall have appellate jurisdiction co-extensive with the limits of their respective districts, which shall extend to all cases of which the District Courts or County Courts have original or appellate jurisdiction, under such restrictions and regulations as may be prescribed by law.”) (emphasis added). Appeals from municipal court must be appealed to the County Court at Law or County Court as appropriate for the particular county. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 44.17 (West 2006) (“In all appeals to a county court from justice courts and municipal courts other than municipal courts of record, the trial shall be de novo in the trial in the county court, the same as if the prosecution had been originally commenced in that court.”). Accordingly we must dismiss Van Horn’s appeal.2 TOM GRAY Chief Justice Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Scoggins Appeal dismissed Opinion delivered and filed June 15, 2016 Do not publish [CR25] A motion for rehearing may be filed within 15 days after the judgment of this Court is rendered. See TEX. R. APP. P. 49.1. If the appellant desires to have the decision of this Court reviewed by filing a petition for discretionary review, that petition must be filed with the Court of Criminal Appeals within 30 days after either the day this Court’s judgment was rendered or the day the last timely motion for rehearing was overruled by this Court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.2(a). 2 Van Horn v. State Page 3 No. 10-16-00179-CR APPENDIX Pleading & motion to reconsider to the Tenth Court & the Municipal Court, regarding Tenth Court March 10th, 2016 & April 14th, 2016 Rulings & the Municipal Court Decision May 26th, 2016 *** Now Van Horn must pay to appeal, even though he is already properly on appeal, accreting constitutional provisions & protections, &now must pay for the clerk’s record again. [Page 2 of 18] *** Jurisprudence is only a privilege, it’s not an absolute right of the state, especially when someone such as I, has the Paramount & remedial right to the relief I Demand. [Page 3 of 18] *** I do not waive my rights ever nor do I consent or acquiesce in any shape form or manner to being defrauded of my rights thus your application of an adversary system or jurisprudence in these matters simply put, means you actions are unconstitutional. [Page 3 of 18] *** It is not in line with the intent of the law & thus it is unconstitutional to delay my justice when it should certainly be clear that I have the evidence & the right & the law to substantiate my right to the immediate relief I have adequately presented. Any reasonably minded person can see what Waxahachie & this Tenth Court is doing is fraud, unconstitutional, & prejudice, & deliberate delay. [Page 3 of 18] *** There are multiple wrongs with setting this case for trial by the municipal judge Ed Jendrzey for the 29th, of march 2016. & he still found me guilty. [Page 4 of 18] Van Horn v. State Page 4 *** A claim or defense is frivolous if a proponent can present no rational argument based upon the evidence or law in support of that claim or defense. Of course rational argument would certainly need to be within the principle, scope & intent of the law. [Page 4 of 18] *** The state has not filed, in any manner, any document constituting a rebuttal, or argument to controvert my pleading, in fact I have yet to get anything from her constituting a documentary rebuttal which is just further grounds for why this suit against me must be dismissed & no further malicious hearing set up or to attend & the current one must be canceled. This situation is so far past ridicules: it’s completely unreasonable and not at all sensible or acceptable. [Pages 4-5 of 18] *** How could you this Tenth court possibly consider to have any legal right or justification to participate in the theft of my dad’s home, or the denial of his remedial right to its return to him, or my right to be free of this kind of malicious prosecution in lue of these factors as are plead throughout the various records. [Page 5 of 18] *** My point is, even though these two defenses are addressed separately as to proofs required, they fail at the same basic problems; both are based on some attribute of an invalid final judgment & the judge had no authority, thus neither element has any validity. No Judicial authority, No valid judgment. Where is Defendants standing? [Page 6 of 18] *** All judges are bound by the supremacy clause of the Constitution to uphold Treaty Law: See, Wineman v. Gastrell 53 fed 697, 2 us. Treaties are the supreme law of the land: Judges in every state shall be bound thereby. Anything in the Constitutions or Laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding any act of the legislature cannot stand in the way. The Treaty shall be superior to the Constitution & laws of any individual state: See, Ware v. Hylton 1796, 3 Dall. (3us.199). [Page 7 of 18] Van Horn v. State Page 5 *** Keefer, thru his Attorney at Law Don E. Ellyson sent me September 5th, 6th, & 8th, “Notice & Demand to Vacate”. I having received but not accepted said notices returning them to Keefer “Refused for Fraud Without Dishonor” September 12th, 2003. September 12th, 2003 accompanying the above I sent Keefer notice in form of a “Refusal for Fraud” Certified Mail No. 7002 0510 0000 3158 3199. [Page 8 of 18] *** The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: An information charging the driver of a motor vehicle upon a public highway without a driver’s license charges no offense as there is no such driver’s license known to the law: Keith Brooks v. State, 158 Tex. Crim. 546; 258 S.W. 2d 317. [Page 9 of 18] *** §2.1 Form. A plea to the jurisdiction may be included in the answer or filed as a separate motion. TRCP 85. If filed as a motion, it should be captioned as a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. [Page 12 of 18] *** The fact of this matter is I challenge the jurisdiction. It should have been granted without any delay. What makes it criminal anyway? [Page 13 of 18] *** The only presumption is that they, “can’t do that”, & “that” being they can’t ‘Prosecute me’ period!!! [Page 14 of 18] *** You should know the point of the Revolution & 1776 Constitution/Bill of Rights was to end the feudal system in America. Encompassing these facts further is the Abridgment of congressional debates of Congress of 1820, & Wallace v. Harmstad of 1863. etc. Van Horn v. State Page 6 I my Rightful expectation of you is that the only right any judicial officer has being that there is sufficient evidence of the law & facts, that my rights are paramount, inviolable, & inalienable, & that I’m suffering a proximate damage a loss of hours & days of work do to preparing my very necessary defense, for such reasons the Court should end the litigation, & award me just & reasonable damages. [Pages 16-17 of 18] *** The situation exists where in you have against me fraudulent charges, e.g. you are pursuing a criminal action against me which is the subject of my complaint. The Court’ only appropriate action is to drop said claims for lack of jurisdiction. [Page 17 of 18] *** I have plead presented & stood there & stated that I cannot be prosecuted on charges that outside the scope of the state’s criminal authority, & I’ve repeatedly read off paramount law in in support of my standing. The state wherein as a sovereign having coupled personal jurisdiction may in some circumstances have a viable cause in regards to said charges. But in my situation such circumstances do not exist, thus I am entitled to all the rights of review such fundamental error provides. [Page 18 of 18] Van Horn v. State Page 7
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