In Re Christopher Riggins v. the State of Texas

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: December 20, 2024
• Docket: 13-24-00647-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

NUMBER 13-24-00647-CR

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG

IN RE CHRISTOPHER RIGGINS

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Tijerina, Silva, and Peña Memorandum Opinion by Justice Tijerina1

Relator Christopher Riggins has filed an emergency application for writ of habeas

corpus seeking release from confinement and the dismissal of all charges filed against

him.

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.

ANN. art. 11.05; Ex parte Braswell, 630 S.W.3d 600, 601 (Tex. App.—Waco 2021, orig.

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. When granting relief, the court must hand down an opinion as in any other case.”); id. R. 47.4 (distinguishing opinions and memorandum opinions). proceeding); In re Quinata, 538 S.W.3d 120, 120 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2017, orig.

proceeding). Therefore, as an intermediate court of appeals, we lack original habeas

jurisdiction in criminal matters. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 22.221(d); In re Neal, 653

S.W.3d 346, 346 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2022, orig. proceeding); In re Spriggs, 528 S.W.3d

234, 236 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2017, orig. proceeding); see also In re Burke, No. 14-23-

00584-CR, 2023 WL 5368180, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 22, 2023, orig.

proceeding) (mem. op. per curiam) (not designated for publication) (“Therefore, this court

does not have original habeas corpus jurisdiction over a request to reduce bail in a

criminal case.”). Instead, our jurisdiction in such matters is appellate in nature. See TEX.

GOV’T CODE ANN. § 22.221(d); Dodson v. State, 988 S.W.2d 833, 835 (Tex. App.—San

Antonio 1999, no pet.); Denby v. State, 627 S.W.2d 435, 435 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] 1981, orig. proceeding) (per curiam).

The Court, having examined and fully considered the emergency application for

writ of habeas corpus and the applicable law, is of the opinion that we lack jurisdiction to

issue the requested relief. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 22.221(d); In re Neal, 653 S.W.3d

at 346; In re Spriggs, 528 S.W.3d at 236. Accordingly, we dismiss this original proceeding

for lack of jurisdiction. Relator’s appeal from the trial court’s denial of a writ of habeas

corpus remains pending in our appellate cause number 13-24-00634-CR.

JAIME TIJERINA Justice Do not publish.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

Delivered and filed on the 20th day of December, 2024.