In Re Joe Flores v. the State of Texas

• Court: Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District (Austin)
• Decided: March 27, 2026
• Docket: 03-26-00252-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-26-00252-CV

In re Joe Flores

FROM THE 450TH DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY NO. D-1-DC-23-208938, THE HONORABLE BRAD URRUTIA, JUDGE PRESIDING

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Relator Joe Flores filed an application for a pre-trial writ of habeas corpus in this

Court, seeking immediate release from his confinement in the Travis County Correctional

Complex pursuant to article 11.08 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. However, original

habeas jurisdiction in a criminal proceeding is limited to the court of criminal appeals, the

district courts, and the county courts. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.05. “This Court lacks

original habeas corpus jurisdiction in criminal cases.” Houston v. State, No. 03-24-00557-CR,

--- S.W.3d ---, 2026 WL 63108, at *15 n.6 (Tex. App.—Austin Jan. 8, 2026, no pet. h.) (first

citing Tex. Const. art. V, § 6; then citing Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.221(d); and then citing Tex.

Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.05). “As an intermediate appellate court, our habeas corpus jurisdiction

in criminal matters is appellate only.” Id. (first citing Tex. Gov’t Code § 22.221(d); and then

citing In re Wilkins, No. 03-20-00381-CV, 2020 WL 5608486, at *1 (Tex. App.—Austin

Sept. 17, 2020, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.)). Thus, this Court lacks jurisdiction over Flores’s

application for writ of habeas corpus. See id.; Ortiz v. State, 299 S.W.3d 930, 932 (Tex. App.— Amarillo 2009, no pet.). Accordingly, we dismiss Flores’s application for writ of habeas corpus

for lack of jurisdiction.

__________________________________________ Maggie Ellis, Justice

Before Justices Triana, Kelly, and Ellis

Filed: March 27, 2026