Opinion
NO. 09-17-00250-CV
08-17-2017
IN RE COMMITMENT OF CURTIS ALLEN ARNOLD
On Appeal from the 435th District Court Montgomery County, Texas
Trial Cause No. 15-05-05169-CV
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Curtis Allen Arnold was determined to be a sexually violent predator and committed for sex offender treatment in 2015. See In re Commitment of Arnold, No. 09-15-00499-CV, 2016 WL 4483181, at *1(Tex. App.—Beaumont Aug. 25, 2016, pet. denied) (mem. op.). On June 5, 2017, the trial court signed an order denying Arnold's motion to appoint an expert witness in connection with the biennial review of Arnold's commitment. Arnold filed a notice of appeal. We questioned our jurisdiction and the parties filed responses.
Generally, appeals may be taken only from final judgments. Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001). In a civil commitment case, the trial court retains jurisdiction while the commitment order remains in effect. See In re Commitment of Cortez, 405 S.W.3d 929, 931 (Tex. App.-Beaumont 2013, no pet.). Arnold has not identified a signed order by the trial court that is appealable at this time. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a); 43.2(f).
APPEAL DISMISSED.
/s/_________
HOLLIS HORTON
Justice Submitted on August 16, 2017
Opinion Delivered August 17, 2017 Before McKeithen, C.J., Horton and Johnson, JJ.