in Re: John Robert Rogers

6-96-028-CV Long Trusts v. Dowd









In The

Court of Appeals

Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana


______________________________


No. 06-04-00058-CV

______________________________




IN RE: JOHN ROBERT ROGERS






                                                                                                                                                             

Original Mandamus Proceeding






                                                                                                                                                                                        



Before Morriss, C.J., Ross and Carter, JJ.

Memorandum Opinion by Justice Carter




MEMORANDUM OPINION


            Relator, John Robert Rogers, contends Sandra King, the district clerk of Panola County, Texas, has refused to issue citation in Rogers' divorce suit against his wife. Rogers asks this Court to compel King to issue the citation and have Rogers' wife served through citation by publication.

            This Court has jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus against a "judge of a district or county court in the court of appeals district." Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 22.221(b) (Vernon 2004). The Legislature has not conferred authority on this Court to issue a writ of mandamus generally, and we do not have the authority in the context of these allegations to issue a writ of mandamus against a district clerk. The Texas Constitution and Article 4.04 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (both cited by Rogers in his petition) authorize only the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to issue a writ of mandamus "in criminal law matters." Tex. Const. art. V, § 5(c); Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 4.04, § 1 (Vernon Supp. 2004). Those provisions do not authorize this Court to issue extraordinary writs.

            We lack jurisdiction to grant the requested relief. Accordingly, we dismiss the original proceeding for want of jurisdiction.

 

                                                                        Jack Carter

                                                                        Justice

 

Date Submitted:          May 10, 2004

Date Decided:             May 11, 2004

to a trial court's ruling on the application of law to fact questions if the resolution of those ultimate questions turns on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Id. We may review de novo the application of law to fact questions not turning on credibility and demeanor. Id.

Robinson and the State agree that Bowen's initial search of the garment bag was made with Robinson's consent. They also agree that Robinson withdrew his consent when Bowen asked to open the bundle. They further agree that Bowen detained the garment bag and therefore Robinson. They disagree over whether that detention was lawful.

An investigative detention is a seizure, Francis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 176, 178 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Johnson v. State, 912 S.W.2d 227, 235 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); thus, it must be reasonable to meet the standards required by the United States and Texas Constitutions. See U.S. Const. amend. IV; Tex. Const. art. I, § 9. To determine the reasonableness of an investigative detention, we apply the guidelines set out by the United States Supreme Court in Terry v. Ohio: (1) whether the officer's action was justified at its inception; and (2) whether it was reasonably related in scope to the circumstances that initially justified the interference. See Davis v. State, 947 S.W.2d 240, 242 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) (citing Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 19-20, 88 S. Ct. 1868, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889 (1968)). Robinson does not contend the detention was excessive in scope; rather, he contends it was not justified at its inception.

To make an investigative detention, an officer must have a reasonable suspicion; that is, the officer must be able to point to specific, articulable facts that, taken together with rational inferences from those facts, reasonably warrant the detention. Davis, 947 S.W.2d at 242-43. In evaluating the reasonableness of an investigative detention, we must apply an objective standard by asking whether, in light of the officer's experience, the facts available would justify a person of reasonable caution in believing the action taken was appropriate. Id. at 243. Reasonable suspicion requires "that there is something out of the ordinary occurring and some indication that the unusual activity is related to crime." Id. at 244 (quoting Viveros v. State, 828 S.W.2d 2, 4 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992)).

Bowen's detention of Robinson was lawful. Bowen testified he targeted Robinson because Robinson was traveling from a city known to be a source for narcotics to a city known to be a destination for narcotics and because of the way Robinson reserved and purchased his ticket. He testified Robinson acted evasive about the presence of the bundle in the garment bag. The object was wrapped in packing tape and was inside a plastic bag with dryer sheets. Bowen testified that in his experience, bundles of that particular size, weight, and feel often contain narcotics. These facts are sufficient to justify a reasonable officer in detaining the bundle, and hence Robinson, for further investigation.

Robinson contends Bowen's decision was based primarily on the size, weight, and feel of the bundle, yet the record does not show he ever handled the bundle. However, the record shows he saw the size and shape of the bundle, watched Robinson handle it, and knocked on it with his hand. From this testimony, the trial court could have found Bowen's testimony credible. Further, the size, weight, and feel of the bundle was only one of several factors justifying Robinson's detention.

Robinson also contends the trial court erred in refusing to suppress the statement he gave to John, the FBI agent. Robinson's theory is that his statement was a fruit of his unlawful detention. Assuming Robinson is correct that his statement was a product of his detention and that the taint of the purportedly unlawful detention had not dissipated, the trial court did not err in refusing to suppress the statement because the detention was not unlawful.

The judgment is affirmed.







Ben Z. Grant

Justice



Date Submitted: August 6, 2002

Date Decided: August 27, 2002



Do Not Publish