In Re Christopher Shane Childers v. the State of Texas

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: March 7, 2025
• Docket: 03-25-00155-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-25-00155-CV

In re Christopher Shane Childers

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING FROM RAINS COUNTY

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Relator Christopher Shane Childers, an inmate in the Texas Department of

Criminal Justice, has filed a pro se petition for writ of mandamus naming as respondent the

Honorable Eddie Northcutt and asking this Court to direct the respondent to reopen the various

causes identified in the petition. Having reviewed the petition, we deny the petition for writ of

mandamus. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.8(a).

This Court’s mandamus jurisdiction is expressly limited by statute to: (1) writs

against a district court judge or county court judge in this Court’s district, and (2) all writs

necessary to enforce our jurisdiction. See Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.221. As to the former, the Third

Court of Appeals has jurisdiction of appeals from the trial courts located in Bastrop, Bell,

Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Fayette, Hays, Irion, Lampasas, Lee, Llano,

McCulloch, Milam, Mills, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sterling, Tom Green, Travis, and

Williamson counties. See id. § 22.201(d). This is an original proceeding from Rains County.

See id. § 22.221. Thus, we have no jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus against a district

court judge outside this Court’s district. See id. As to the latter, Relator has not demonstrated that the exercise of our writ power is necessary to enforce our jurisdiction in this case.

Therefore, Relator has not established that we have jurisdiction to issue the writ he seeks.

The petition for writ of mandamus is denied. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.8(a).

__________________________________________ Rosa Lopez Theofanis, Justice

Before Justices Triana, Theofanis, and Crump

Filed: March 7, 2025