in Re the Commitment of Timothy Daniel Renshaw
Docket: 06-22-00079-CV
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas; November 1, 2022; Texas; State Appellate Court
Original Court Document: View Document
Timothy Daniel Renshaw was determined by a jury to be a sexually violent predator under Section 841.003 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, leading to his commitment for treatment and supervision upon his prison release. Renshaw appealed the trial court's decision, which was affirmed in a previous ruling. He subsequently filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, claiming that his behavioral condition had improved and that he was no longer likely to engage in predatory sexual acts. The Court of Appeals dismissed Renshaw's petition, citing a lack of jurisdiction over the original habeas proceeding. The court referenced Article V, Section 6(a) of the Texas Constitution, which grants appellate jurisdiction to the courts and outlines their authority to issue writs of habeas corpus as defined by law. Specifically, Section 22.221(d) of the Texas Government Code permits original habeas jurisdiction only when a person's liberty is restrained due to a violation of a previous court order in a civil case. Since Renshaw's situation did not involve such a violation, the court concluded it lacked the jurisdiction to consider his petition and dismissed it for want of jurisdiction.