Opinion
No. 05-12-01740-CR
04-02-2013
LAYNE CAMERON GREEN, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 401st Judicial District Court
Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 401-81638-10
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Lang-Miers, Murphy, and Fillmore
Opinion by Justice Fillmore
Layne Cameron Green was convicted of intoxication assault. Pursuant to a plea bargain agreement, the trial court assessed punishment at four years' imprisonment. Sentence was imposed in open court on April 21, 2011. On November 6, 2012, appellant filed a pro se motion for a nunc pro tunc order seeking to have the deadly weapon finding deleted from the trial court's judgment. The trial court did not rule on appellant's motion. Appellant filed a "Notice Of Appeal For Nunc Pro Tunc Order To Correct Finding."
There is a docket sheet entry dated November 26, 2012 that states "No action taken on request for Nunc Pro Tunc."
We sent the parties a letter questioning our jurisdiction over the appeal absent an order ruling on the motion. Appellant, rather than his attorney, responded; however, he addressed the merits of his motion rather than the Court's jurisdiction. The State did not respond. We conclude we lack jurisdiction over the appeal.
"Jurisdiction concerns the power of a court to hear and determine a case." Olivo v. State, 918 S.W.2d 519, 522 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). The jurisdiction of an appellate court must be legally invoked, and, if not, "the power of the court to act is as absent as if it did not exist." See id. at 523. As a general rule, an appellate court may consider appeals by criminal defendants only after conviction. Wright v. State, 969 S.W.2d 588, 589 (Tex. App.-Dallas 1998, no pet.). A court of appeals has no jurisdiction over an appeal absent a written judgment or other appealable order. See Nikrasch v. State, 698 S.W.2d 443, 450 (Tex. App.-Dallas 1985, no pet.).
In this case, there is no order ruling on appellant's motion for a nunc pro tunc order modifying the judgment. Accordingly, we have no jurisdiction over the appeal. See id.
We dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction.
____________
ROBERT M. FILLMORE
JUSTICE
Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47
121740F.U05
JUDGMENT
LAYNE CAMERON GREEN, Appellant
V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee No. 05-12-01740-CR
On Appeal from the 401st Judicial District
Court, Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 401-81638-10.
Opinion delivered by Justice Fillmore,
Justices Lang-Miers and Murphy
participating.
Based on the Court's opinion of this date, we DISMISS the appeal for want of jurisdiction.
____________
ROBERT M. FILLMORE
JUSTICE