In Re Carne Mwangi v. the State of Texas

Opinion

Opinion issued December 11, 2025

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

Intermediate appellate courts do not have original habeas jurisdiction in criminal law matters. See TEX. GOV’T CODE § 22.221(d) (original habeas jurisdiction of courts of appeal is limited to cases in which person’s liberty is restrained because person violated order, judgment, or decree entered in civil case); Chavez v. State, 132 S.W.3d 509, 510 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.). Our habeas corpus jurisdiction in criminal matters is appellate only. See TEX. GOV’T CODE § 22.221(d); Ex parte Denby, 627 S.W.2d 435, 435 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1981, orig. proceeding). Original habeas jurisdiction in criminal proceedings is limited to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the district courts, and the county courts. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 11.05. Thus, to the extent relator seeks to have this Court grant his application for a writ of habeas corpus for the first instance in our Court, we lack jurisdiction to do so.

Furthermore, the Harris County District Clerk’s website reflects that relator is represented by appointed counsel. Relator is not entitled to hybrid representation and, as such, his pro se application for a writ of habeas corpus presents nothing for this Court to review. See Ex parte Bohannan, 350 S.W.3d 116, 116 n.1 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (because habeas applicant was represented by counsel, court must disregard and take no action on pro se filings); Ex parte Hallcy, No. 07-16-00471- CR, 2016 WL 7634497, at *1 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Dec. 30, 2016, orig. proceeding) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (finding that appellate court

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lacks jurisdiction over original habeas application filed pro se where applicant was represented by counsel and dismissing writ application).

Accordingly, we dismiss relator’s petition for writ of habeas corpus for lack of jurisdiction. Any pending motions are dismissed as moot.

PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Rivas-Molloy, Gunn, and Caughey.

Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

Footnotes

1. NO. 01-25-00955-CR ——————————— IN RE CARNE MWANGI, Relator Original Proceeding on Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus MEMORANDUM OPINION Carne Mwangi, acting pro se, has filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus claiming unlawful incarceration in the underlying criminal case.1 We dismiss the petition for lack of jurisdiction.2 1 The underlying case is The State of Texas v. Carne Mwangi, cause number 1927342, pending in the 495th District Court of Harris County, Texas, the Honorable Lori DeAngelo presiding. 2 Relator’s petition also fails to comply with the original proceeding requirements enumerated in the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.3 (form and content of petition); TEX. R. APP. P 52.7 (record).