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383 S.W.2d 406

Ex parte Brammer

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Decided October 28, 1964

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · decided 1964-10-28

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently March 1972

1 state decisions

Relies on Chick v. State

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1964-10-28

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DICE, Commissioner.

¶1On September 10, 1964, relator presented to this court her petition for writ of habeas corpus, in which it was alleged that she was illegally confined and restrained of her liberty by the sheriff of Harris County, by virtue of a certain order issued by Judge Wendall Odom, Judge of the Criminal District Court No. 2 of Harris County, finding her in contempt of court.

¶2Said petition was ordered filed and set for hearing on October 5, 1964, on the question of whether the writ shall issue.

¶3A certified copy of Judge Odom’s order dated August 25, 1964, is attached to the petition, in which order relator was adjudged in contempt for refusing, to testify and give answers to certain questions which had been propounded to her by the May, 1964, term grand jury of said court after having been granted immunity from prosecution, such refusal being on the ground that to do so would tend to incriminate her husband. •

¶4The order provides that relator be pun-, ished by a fine in the sum of $100 and that she be committed to the jail of Harris County until she is willing to testify.

¶5On October 5, 1964, the date" set for hearing, a motion to dismiss the petition was filed in the cause by the state, alleging that the relief prayed for had been granted and that the petition for relief had been rendered moot.

¶6Attached to the state’s motion to dismiss is a certified copy of an order entered by Judge Wendall Odom on September 25, 1964, setting aside and holding for naught the order of contempt entered against relator upon a finding that she had been jointly indicted with her husband, James Brammer, and others, and that the order of contempt had become moot because she could not purge herself, as required by said order.

¶7The order further directs the sheriff of Harris County to return to the district clerk of Harris County the commitment issued on said order of contempt.

¶8It now appearing that relator is no longer subject to restraint by virtue of the order of contempt, the matter presented to this court with reference to the legality of her restraint has become moot and the petition should be dismissed. Ex parte Kent, 124 Tex.Cr.R. 31, 60 S.W.2d 786.

¶9The petition is dismissed.

¶10Opinion approved bv the court.

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