Opinion
No. 05-17-00924-CV
08-14-2017
IN RE BRETT FOUNTAIN, Relator
Original Proceeding from the Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 Rockwall County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. JP3-16-0565
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Lang, Evans, and Stoddart
Opinion by Justice Stoddart
Before the Court is relator's July 26, 2017 complaint, which we construe as a petition for writ of mandamus. In the petition, relator complains that a Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Rockwall County, has not ruled on relator's motion to recuse and has engaged in official oppression. We construe relator's petition as seeking an order from this Court ordering the Justice of the Peace to rule on the motion to recuse purportedly filed by relator.
This Court does not have writ jurisdiction over a justice of the peace unless the justice is interfering with our appellate jurisdiction. TEX. GOV'T. CODE ANN. § 22.221(a)-(b) (West 2004) (court of appeals may only issue writ of mandamus against district and county judges or as necessary to enforce jurisdiction of appellate court); see also In re Wilkerson, No. 05-16-00322-CV, 2016 WL 1320815, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 5, 2016, orig. proceeding) (citing In re Simpson, 997 S.W.2d 939, 939 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999, orig. proceeding)). No appeal related to relator is pending in this Court and, therefore, our jurisdiction is not in jeopardy. Accordingly, we dismiss this proceeding for want of jurisdiction.
/Craig Stoddart/
CRAIG STODDART
JUSTICE 170924F.P05