Ex Parte Louis Means

Opinion issued February 13, 2003





















In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

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NO. 01-03-00094-CV

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IN RE LOUIS MEANS, Relator




Original Proceeding on Petition for Writ of Mandamus




MEMORANDUM OPINION

Relator, Louis Means, requests that this Court compel respondent (1) to rule on his petition for writ of habeas corpus in cause number 370813-B, filed pursuant to article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. Art. 11.07 (Vernon Supp. 2003).

This Court has no authority to issue a writ of mandamus to compel a district court judge to rule on a petition for writ of habeas corpus in which the judgment of conviction is final. In re McAfee, 53 S.W.3d 715, 718 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, orig. proceeding). This is because jurisdiction to grant post-conviction habeas corpus relief in felony cases rests exclusively with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. 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, we dismiss the petition for writ of mandamus for lack of jurisdiction.

It is so ORDERED.

PER CURIAM



Panel consists of Justices Taft, Keyes, and Higley.

Do not publish. Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).

1.

Respondent is the Honorable Brian Rains, Judge, 176th District Court, Harris County.