Opinion
09-23-00357-CV
12-07-2023
IN RE TERRY EUGENE WOODWORTH
Submitted on December 6, 2023
Original Proceeding 9th District Court of Montgomery County, Texas Trial Cause No. 19-07-09306-CV
Before Golemon, C.J., Johnson and Wright, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
PER CURIAM
In an original proceeding for a writ of mandamus, Terry Eugene Woodworm contends that the trial court abused its discretion and committed reversible error in April 2021 by proceeding to trial on the State's petition to have Woodworm committed as a sexually violent predator and by having Woodworm appear at his trial through use of videoconferencing technology in violation of Woodworm's statutory right to be physically present for the trial under the version of Health and Safety Code section 841.061 that was in effect on the date of his trial. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 841.061(d)(1); see also In re Commitment of Bluitt, 605 S.W.3d 199, 204 (Tex. 2020) (the right to appear at trial granted by section 841.061(d)(1) includes the right to appear in person); but see Thirty-Sixth Emergency Order Regarding COVID-19 State of Disaster, 629 S.W.3d 897 (Tex. 2021).
We may grant mandamus relief to correct a trial court's abuse of discretion when an appeal provides an inadequate remedy. In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135-36 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding); Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839-40 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). "[M]andamus will not issue when the law provides another plain, adequate, and complete remedy." In re Tex. Dep't of Family & Protective Servs., 210 S.W.3d 609, 613 (Tex. 2006) (orig. proceeding). A person may appeal following his commitment as a sexually violent predator. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 841.146(b). In fact, Woodworm did appeal the trial court's final judgment and order of civil commitment. See In re Commitment of Woodworth, No. 09-21-00176-CV, 2022 WL 17491819 (Tex. App.-Beaumont Dec. 8,2022, pet. denied). Woodworm seeks to challenge the final judgment and order of commitment, but he cannot do so through mandamus even if his appellate remedy is no longer available. See In re Robertson, No. 14-16-01013-CV, 2017 WL 506807, at *2 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist] Feb 7, 2017, orig. proceeding [mand. denied]).
Woodworm asks this Court to compel the trial court to reverse the final judgment and order of civil commitment. In 2022, this Court affirmed the trial court's final judgment and our mandate has issued. See Woodworth, 2022 WL 17491819, at *5. Woodworth has not shown that he presented his current complaint to the trial court, but if he had the trial court would be bound by our mandate in the appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 51.1(b).
We deny the petition for a writ of mandamus.
PETITION DENIED.