IN RE: LARRY D. JACKSON--Appeal from 209th District Court of Harris County

NUMBER 13-07-153-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG

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IN RE LARRY D. JACKSON

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On Petition for Writ of Mandamus
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MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Ya ez, Benavides, and Vela
Per Curiam Memorandum Opinion (1)

Relator, Larry D. Jackson, pro se, filed a petition for writ of mandamus in the above cause on March 12, 2007, asking this Court to direct the 209th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, the Honorable Michael McSpadden presiding, to reduce relator's bond on grounds that it is excessive. In further correspondence to this Court, relator raises additional complaints regarding proceedings in the trial court below, including allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, official oppression, the violation of relator's constitutional rights, and the trial court's alleged failure to rule on relator's pending motions.

We are obligated to determine sua sponte whether we have jurisdiction over this proceeding. State v. Roberts, 940 S.W.2d 655, 657 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996),overruled on other grounds, State v. Medrano, 67 S.W.3d 892, 903 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Baranowski v. State, 176 S.W.3d 671, 675 (Tex. App.-Texarkana 2005, pet. ref'd); Watson v. State, 96 S.W.3d 497, 500 (Tex. App.-Amarillo 2002, pet. ref'd). When we lack jurisdiction to act, we have no power to dispose of the matter in any manner other than dismissal for lack of jurisdiction. Olivo v. State, 918 S.W.2d 519, 523 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (en banc); State v. Mercier, 164 S.W.3d 799, 809 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 2005, pet. ref'd).

The Texas Government Code provides that the state is divided into fourteen courts of appeals districts with a court of appeals in each district. See Tex. Gov't Code Ann. 22.201(a) (Vernon 2004). The code further specifies which counties comprise each court of appeals district. See id. at 22.201(b)-(o) (Vernon 2004). Each court of appeals for a court of appeals district may issue all writs of mandamus, "agreeable to the principles of law regulating those writs," against a judge of a district or county court in the court of appeals district. See id. 22.221(b) (Vernon 2004). Based on the foregoing, this Court has jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus against a judge of a district or county court in our court of appeals district. See id.; In re Davis, 87 S.W.3d 794, 795 (Tex. App.-Texarkana 2002, orig. proceeding). The 209th Judicial District Court of Harris County is not within our court of appeals district and is therefore not within the territorial jurisdiction of this Court. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. 22.201(n) (Vernon 2004); In re Davis, 87 S.W.3d at 795. Rather, cases arising from a district or county court in Harris County fall within the territorial jurisdiction of either the First Court of Appeals District or the Fourteenth Court of Appeals District. See id. at 22.201(b), (o) (Vernon 2004).

We find nothing in this case which confers jurisdiction on this Court to decide this mandamus proceeding. Accordingly, the petition for writ of mandamus is DISMISSED for want of jurisdiction. See In re Davis, 87 S.W.3d at 795. Any pending motions are likewise DISMISSED for want of jurisdiction.

PER CURIAM

 

Do not publish.

Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).

 

Memorandum Opinion delivered and filed

this 13th day of March, 2007.

 

1. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.8(d) ("When denying relief, the court may hand down an opinion but is not required to do so."); Tex. R. App. P. 47.4 (distinguishing opinions and memorandum opinions).