Ex parte Phelper

Decision Date30 October 1968
Docket NumberNo. 41679,41679
Citation433 S.W.2d 897
PartiesEx parte Ben Herbert PHELPER.
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

Emmett Colvin, Jr., Dallas, for relator.

Henry Wade, Dist. Atty., Malcolm Dade and Kerry P. FitzGerald, Asst. Dist. Attys., Dallas, and Leon B. Douglas, State's Atty., Austin, for the State.

OPINION

BELCHER, Judge.

This is an original application for writ of habeas corpus brought by the relator, Ben Herbert Phelper, seeking his release from custody resulting from a conviction in County Criminal Court No. 2 of Dallas County. Phelper v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 396 S.W.2d 396.

The relator alleges that he is restrained of his liberty by virtue of a judgment adjudging him guilty of violating Art. 527, P.C. Relator contends that his conviction is invalid on the ground that Art. 527, supra, is void and unconstitutional. Also, that an unconstitutional instruction on community standards was given by the court at the trial in which relator was convicted.

This court has consistently declined to exercise its original jurisdiction in habeas corpus attacks upon the validity of a misdemeanor conviction, the county court, district court, or a judge of said court having jurisdiction to grant relief, and the petitioner having the right of appeal from an order denying relief. See Arts. 11.09 et seq., Vernon's Ann.C.C.P.; Ex parte Lynn, 19 Tex.App. 120; Ex parte Gregory, 85 Tex.Cr.R. 115, 210 S.W. 204; Ex parte Smallwood, 87 Tex.Cr.R. 268, 221 S.W. 293.

In remanding to the federal district court with directions to dismiss the petition without prejudice to Phelper's right to present to the state courts the issue of whether an unconstitutional instruction on community standards was given to the jury and whether mere possession of obscenity cannot constitutionally be a crime (Phelper v. Decker, 401 F.2d 232), the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, appears to have overlooked the fact that the post conviction procedure provided in Art. 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure as amended in 1967 does not apply to misdemeanor convictions.

The petition for writ of habeas corpus is dismissed.

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15 cases
  • Spring v. Caldwell
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of Texas
    • June 25, 1981
    ...relief. Ex parte Johnson, 561 S.W.2d 841 (Tex.Cr.App.1978); Ex parte Crosley, 548 S.W.2d 409 (Tex.Cr.App.1977); Ex parte Phelper, 433 S.W.2d 897 (Tex.Cr. App.1968). However, where the court refuses to issue the writ the petitioner may not appeal, but he or she can present the application to......
  • Ex parte Renier
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • July 1, 1987
    ...[citations omitted]. The applicant is entitled to have a hearing on the allegations which he has made." See also Ex parte Phelper, 433 S.W.2d 897, 898 (Tex.Cr.App.1968). Granted it has been said that Article 11.07 provides the means to attack validity of a "final conviction in any felony ca......
  • May v. Carlton
    • United States
    • Tennessee Supreme Court
    • January 18, 2008
    ...the term has been served and the fine paid. Id. at 327; see also Ex parte Ormsby, 676 S.W.2d 130 (Tex.Crim.App.1984); Ex parte Phelper, 433 S.W.2d 897 (Tex.Crim.App. 1968); and Ex parte Jordan, 659 S.W.2d 827 (Tex.Crim.App. 1983). Denial of entry in the military and prohibitions against any......
  • Smith v. Flack, 69676
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • April 22, 1987
    ...the Court of Criminal Appeals will not issue original writs where other courts have jurisdiction to do so. See, e.g., Ex parte Phelper, 433 S.W.2d 897 (Tex.Cr.App.1968); Ex parte Crosley, 548 S.W.2d 409 (Tex.Cr.App.1977); 38 Tex.Jur.3rd, Extraordinary Writs, § 62, pp. There is no reason why......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
11 books & journal articles
  • Post-Trial Issues
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive Texas Criminal Lawyer's Handbook. Volume 2 - 2015 Contents
    • August 17, 2015
    ...defendant should first apply to the county or district courts, then appeal from an order denying relief. Ex parte Phelper, 433 S.W.2d 897 (Tex. Crim. App. 1968); Mayes, 538 S.W.2d 637. However, see Ex parte Sheppard, 548 S.W.2d 414 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977), where the lower courts refused to p......
  • Post-Trial Issues
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive Texas Criminal Lawyer's Handbook. Volume 2 - 2021 Contents
    • August 16, 2021
    ...defendant should first apply to the county or district courts, then appeal from an order denying relief. Ex parte Phelper, 433 S.W.2d 897 (Tex. Crim. App. 1968); Mayes, 538 S.W.2d 637. However, see Ex parte Sheppard, 548 S.W.2d 414 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977), where the lower courts refused to p......
  • Post-Trial Issues
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive Texas Criminal Lawyer's Handbook. Volume 2 - 2017 Contents
    • August 17, 2017
    ...defendant should first apply to the county or district courts, then appeal from an order denying relief. Ex parte Phelper, 433 S.W.2d 897 (Tex. Crim. App. 1968); Mayes, 538 S.W.2d 637. However, see Ex parte Sheppard, 548 S.W.2d 414 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977), where the lower courts refused to p......
  • Post-Trial Issues
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive Texas Criminal Lawyer's Handbook. Volume 2 - 2016 Contents
    • August 17, 2016
    ...defendant should first apply to the county or district courts, then appeal from an order denying relief. Ex parte Phelper, 433 S.W.2d 897 (Tex. Crim. App. 1968); Mayes, 538 S.W.2d 637. However, see Ex parte Sheppard, 548 S.W.2d 414 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977), where the lower courts refused to p......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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