In Re Lisa Searcy v. the State of Texas

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion
filed June 6, 2024.

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

NO. 14-24-00390-CV

IN RE LISA SEARCY, Relator

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
306th District Court
Galveston County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 22-FD-0345

MEMORANDUM OPINION

On May 30, 2024, relator Lisa Searcy filed a petition for writ of habeas
corpus in this Court. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221; see also Tex. R. App. P.
52. In the petition, relator asks this Court to compel the Honorable Anne B.
Darring, presiding judge of the 306th District Court of Galveston County, to
return her children from the party to whom the trial court has awarded possession
pursuant to temporary orders.
Intermediate courts of appeals have limited jurisdiction to issue writs of
habeas corpus. This original jurisdiction does not encompass habeas corpus cases
arising under the Family Code pertaining to the return of a minor child.1 See Tex.
Fam. Code § 157.371 (requiring a petition for writ of habeas corpus to be filed “in
either the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction or in a court with jurisdiction
to issue a writ of habeas corpus in the county in which the child is found”); see
also In re Cruz, No. (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg July 21, 2023, orig.
proceeding) (mem. op.) (citing cases). Here, relator has not shown that the relief
she requests is authorized by § 22.221(d). See In re Davis, No. 01-14-00838-CV,
2014 WL 6068565, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Nov. 13, 2014, orig.
proceeding) (per curiam). We lack jurisdiction to issue the requested relief.

Accordingly, we dismiss relator’s petition for writ of habeas corpus for lack
of jurisdiction.

PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Chief Justice Tracy Christopher and Justices Zimmerer and
Poissant.

1
Similarly, the Family Code does not authorize an appeal from the denial of a petition for a writ
of habeas corpus under section 157.372 of the Family Code. Ex parte G.R.G., No. 14-21-00152-CV,
2021 WL 1683695, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 29, 2021, no pet) (mem. op.) (citing
Maadani v. Ward, 611 S.W.3d 460, 461 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2020, no pet.) (per curiam)).
However, mandamus may lie to correct the erroneous denial of a habeas petition seeking possession of a
child under Chapter 157 of the Family Code. See id.; see also In re Kubankin, 257 S.W.3d 852, 858 (Tex.
App.—Waco 2008, no pet.); In re deFilippi, 235 S.W.3d 319, 322 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2007, no
pet.).
2