in Re: Kenneth Richard Leroy

Opinion issued May 15, 2003

















In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

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NO. 01-03-00450-CV

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IN RE KENNETH RICHARD LEROY, Relator




Original Proceeding on Petition for Writ of Mandamus




MEMORANDUM OPINION

Relator, Kenneth Richard Leroy, filed a petition for writ of mandamus in which he requests that this Court order his immediate release from confinement in the penitentiary. He further requests that we order respondents (1) to show cause why relator should not be immediately discharged from confinement.

According to the petition, relator was convicted of aggravated assault in cause number 865761 and sentenced to confinement for seven years. He filed a post-conviction application for writ of habeas corpus in the trial court, complaining of ineffective assistance of his trial counsel. As we read relator's petition, he complains that the trial court has not granted the writ application.

Relator's conviction in cause number 865761 is final. Relator must therefore seek relief in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals because jurisdiction to grant post-conviction habeas corpus relief in felony cases rests exclusively with that court. Board of Pardons & Paroles ex rel. Keene v. Court of Appeals for the Eighth District, 910 S.W.2d 481, 483 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.07, § 3 (Vernon Supp. 2003).

Therefore, the petition for writ of mandamus is dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

It is so ORDERED.

PER CURIAM



Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack, and Justices Alcala and Higley.

1.

Respondents are Janie Cockrell, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice; Hon. Jan Krocker, Judge, 184th District Court, Harris County; and Jessica Laird, Assistant District Attorney, Harris County.