Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

606 S.W.2d 923

Ex parte Warnell

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Decided October 29, 1980

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · decided 1980-10-29

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently November 1990

3 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

““The style of all writs and process shall be, ‘The State of Texas.’ All prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by authority of the State of Texas, and shall conclude: ‘Against the peace and dignity of the State,’ ””

quoted by 1 later decision, including Saenz v. State

““An indictment shall be deemed sufficient if it has the following requisites: (1) - (8) The indictment concludes, ‘Against the peace and dignity of the State.’ ””

quoted by 1 later decision, including Saenz v. State

Relies on American Plant Food Corporation v. State · Barbee v. State · Aydelott v. State

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1980-10-29

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1OPINION

ONION, Presiding Judge.

¶2This is a post-conviction habeas corpus proceeding brought under the provisions of Article 11.07, V.A.C.C.P.

¶3Petitioner alleges that he was convicted of burglary of a habitation upon his guilty plea to a felony information (Article 1.141, V.A.C.C.P.) after waiver of an indictment by a grand jury. His punishment was assessed by the court at seven (7) years’ imprisonment.

¶4He now contends that the felony information to which he pled is fatally defective because it did not conclude “Against the peace and dignity of the State.”

¶5Article V, § 12 of the State Constitution in part provides:

“The style of all writs and process shall be, ‘The State of Texas.’ All prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by authority of the State of Texas, and shall conclude: ‘Against the peace and dignity of the State.’ ”

¶6Article 21.02, V.A.C.C.P., provides in part:

“An indictment shall be deemed sufficient if it has the following requisites:
“(1) -
“(8) The indictment concludes, ‘Against the peace and dignity of the State.’ ”

¶7Article 21.21, V.A.C.C.P., provides in part:

“An information is sufficient if it has the following requisites:
“(1) -
“(8) That it conclude ‘Against the peace and dignity of the State.’ ”

¶8An information is fatally defective when it does not conclude “Against the peace and dignity of the State.” Herring v. State, 273 S.W.2d 421 (Tex.Cr.App.1954); Etter v. State, 297 S.W.2d 834 (Tex.Cr.App.1957). See also Article 21.21 supra, note 16. The same is true of an indictment. Reese v. State, 141 S.W.2d 949 (Tex.Cr.App.1940); American Plant Food Corp. v. State, 508 S.W.2d 598 (Tex.Cr.App.1974). See Article 21.02, supra, note 59.

¶9The petitioner is entitled to the relief prayed. The felony information is dismissed and the petitioner is ordered discharged from custody thereunder.

¶10It is so ordered.

/606/sw2d/923 · .json · Public domain