Ex Parte Michael W. Bush

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: April 7, 2005
• Docket: 07-05-00116-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

NO. 07-05-0116-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL D

APRIL 7, 2005 ______________________________

Ex parte MICHAEL W. BUSH,

Appellant

_________________________________

FROM THE 154TH DISTRICT COURT OF LAMB COUNTY;

NO. 16,509; HON. FELIX KLEIN, PRESIDING _______________________________

Order of Dismissal _______________________________

Before QUINN, REAVIS, and CAMPBELL, JJ.

Michael W. Bush appeals from an order dismissing his application for writ of habeas

corpus. The writ was sought to obtain release from the purported restraint of Bruce Peel,

mayor of Littlefield, Texas. Peel had moved for dismissal, contending that the trial court

lacked jurisdiction over the proceedings. The trial court granted the motion. We now

dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

One may not appeal from an order denying a writ of habeas corpus unless the order

arose after a hearing on the merits and the trial court denied the application on the merits.

Ex parte Hargett, 819 S.W.2d 866, 868 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Next, granting a motion

to dismiss due to the absence of jurisdiction is not a ruling on the merits. See Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 554 (Tex. 2000); see also City of Lubbock v. Rule, 68

S.W.3d 853, 857 (Tex. App.–Amarillo 2002, no pet.). So because the trial court dismissed

the appeal due to the lack of jurisdiction, we ourselves have no jurisdiction over the appeal.

Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

Brian Quinn Justice

Do not publish.