Terry Dwain Turner v. The State of Texas--Appeal from County Court at Law No 2 of Smith County

NO. 12-02-00168-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS

TERRY DWAIN TURNER,

 
APPEAL FROM THE

APPELLANT

 

V.

 
COUNTY COURT AT LAW #2

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

APPELLEE

 
SMITH COUNTY, TEXASMEMORANDUM OPINION

Terry Dwain Turner ("Appellant") appeals his conviction for violation of a protective order. In his sole issue, Appellant argues the trial court lacked jurisdiction. We affirm.

 

Background

On June 22, 2001, a protective order was entered pursuant to the Family Code prohibiting Appellant from going within 200 yards of the residence, place of employment, or known location of Cheri Jean Buchanan ("Buchanan"). The order, signed by the judge of the county court at law of Hopkins County, stated that the trial court had jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter. Further, the order was effective immediately and was to continue in effect until June 22, 2003.

By complaint and information filed on August 27, 2001, the State charged that, on or about July 8, 2001, Appellant violated the protective order by intentionally or knowingly going to or near Buchanan's location in Smith County. However, on September 21, 2001, the court in Hopkins County entered an agreed temporary restraining order and order vacating protective order. The court found that, "[a]fter due consideration of the agreement of the parties," its previous protective order of June 22, 2001 is a "void order," and that "no legal disabilities, causes of action, or other legal consequence, should attach or arise" from the order. Then, the court vacated its previous protective order and declared it void ab initio.

On May 20, 2002, a jury trial was held in the County Court at Law No. 2 of Smith County on Appellant's violation of the June 22, 2001 protective order. Appellant, appearing pro se, attempted to admit into evidence the Hopkins County order vacating the protective order, but the trial court refused to admit the order. On May 20, 2002, a jury convicted Appellant of violating the protective order, a misdemeanor, as charged in the information, and assessed punishment at confinement for four months and a fine of $1,000. (1) This appeal followed.

 

Challenge to the Jurisdiction

Appellant argues that the trial court was without jurisdiction to hear the case because the protective order he allegedly violated was void ab initio prior to the trial. The State contends that the trial court had jurisdiction, and argues that the previous protective order was not void, but was in full force and effect when the violation occurred.

Applicable Law

Jurisdiction of a court is an absolute right, one that is nonwaivable and nonforfeitable. McGowan v. State, 938 S.W.2d 732, 740 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1996), aff'd sub nom. Weightman v. State, 975 S.W.2d 621 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) (citing Marin v. State, 851 S.W.2d 275, 279 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)). A lack of jurisdiction is fundamental error, and is appealable even if raised for the first time on appeal. Stine v. State, 908 S.W.2d 429, 431 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). If a court lacks jurisdiction over a case, the judgment is void (2) and may be collaterally attacked. Ex parte Seidel, 39 S.W.3d 221, 224 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). Likewise, an order is "absolutely void" if the issuing court lacked jurisdiction. Green Oaks, Ltd. v. Cannan, 749 S.W.2d 128, 130 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1987), writ denied per curiam, 758 S.W.2d 753 (Tex. 1988). Moreover, if a document is void or void ab initio, it is as if the document did not exist because it was ineffective from the beginning. Commonwealth Land Title Ins. Co. v. Nelson, 889 S.W.2d 312, 318 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, writ denied). Further, there must be no question about the existence of the fundamental defect in the record. Nix v. State, 65 S.W.3d 664, 668 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); see Dillard v. State, No. 05-00-01745-CR (Tex. App.-Dallas Dec. 20, 2002, no pet.) (not designated for publication), 2002 WL 31845796 at *4 (stating that a judgment containing recitations that jurisdiction has been "activated" is not void, merely voidable).

Discussion

Appellant argues that the court lacked jurisdiction because the information was defective when it alleged violation of a void protective order. The protective order may be void if the issuing court lacked jurisdiction and this jurisdictional defect must appear in the record. See Green Oaks, Ltd., 749 S.W.2d at 130; Nix, 65 S.W.3d at 668. The protective order of June 22, 2001 declared that the court had jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter. Further, the order vacating the protective order did not allege any jurisdictional defects in the prior order. Therefore, the protective order is not void. Moreover, a protective order may be modified, but, until further action by the court rendering the order, it is valid and enforceable. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. 85.009, 87.001 (Vernon 2002). Although the protective order was modified by a later order, it was still in effect on July 8, 2001, the date of the offense. Therefore, the information was not deficient because it alleged violation of a valid and enforceable protective order. Because the issuing court had proper jurisdiction and the protective order was valid on the date of the offense as alleged in the information, the trial court had jurisdiction over the case. Accordingly, Appellant's sole issue is overruled.

 

Conclusion

Based upon our review of the record, we hold that the trial court had jurisdiction. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

 

SAM GRIFFITH

Justice

Opinion delivered September 30, 2003.

Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and DeVasto, J.

 
(DO NOT PUBLISH)

1. Violation of a protective order is a Class A misdemeanor. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 25.07 (Vernon 2003). The punishment range for a Class A misdemeanor is confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, a fine not exceeding $4,000, or both. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 12.21 (Vernon 2003).

2. Black's Law Dictionary defines void as "[o]f no legal effect; null" and void ab initio as "null from the beginning." Black's Law Dictionary 1568 (7th ed. 1999).