Ex Parte Everett James Smith v. the State of Texas

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: July 10, 2025
• Docket: 03-25-00458-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-25-00458-CR

Ex parte Everett James Smith

FROM THE 264TH DISTRICT COURT OF BELL COUNTY, NO. 25DCR91537, THE HONORABLE PAUL LEPAK, JUDGE PRESIDING

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Everett James Smith seeks appellate review of his pretrial writ of habeas corpus

filed in his criminal case. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 11.08; Tex. R. App. Proc. 31. The

trial court has certified that Smith’s criminal case “is pending, and the court has made no

rulings.” The record reflects that the trial court has not yet ruled on Smith’s pretrial habeas

corpus application. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. See Tex. R.

App. P. 31.3. To the extent Smith is attempting to file an original pretrial habeas corpus petition

arising from his criminal case, it is also dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. See Ex parte

Bhardwaj, 575 S.W.3d 915 (Tex. App.—Waco 2019, no pet.); cf. Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.221(d)

(providing that court of appeals have original jurisdiction to issue writs of habeas corpus in

certain civil cases).

__________________________________________ Chief Justice Darlene Byrne

Before Chief Justice Byrne, Justices Crump and Ellis

Dismissed for Want of Jurisdiction

Filed: July 10, 2025

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