This harm results in more than just material burdens. Harris County Clerk's Office All fines are subject to change without notice. Occupational License. The Trial Court Should Have Denied Defendant's Plea to Jurisdiction, II. 2012, no pet.). See Obergefell, 576 U.S. at 66970, 135 S.Ct. MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY , Click graphic above for Municipal Courts Weddings info, Click graphic above for Safe Harbor Court info, Click graphic above for Passport Application info, Click graphic above for Veterans Court info, Herbert W. Gee Municipal Courthouse Whether the Mayor or City violated state or local law in the past or is violating it now in providing spousal benefits to same-sex spouses is legally irrelevant if the City was under federal court order to do so on the date the lawsuit was filed. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 226. be directed to the Court Clerks of the court you are assigned to. 16. You as the Petitioner must prepare the petition on your own or Moreover, RFRA has a statutory standing provision that does not apply to state ultra vires claims. App.Houston [14th Dist.] 2007). It includes important statistical information on jury . for pick-up from our office so that the attorney can present it to the Judge. Box 53750Houston, Texas 77052-3750. FOLLOW US, Contact Us Ins. Criminal court fees and customer service fees can be found here. How does a process server file the return of citation? at 243. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court's holdings in Windsor, Obergefell, Pavan, and Bostock, discussed infra, the declaratory relief sought by appellants in this case presumes that Section 22 of the Houston City Charter, Section 6.204(c) of the Texas Family Code and Article I, Section 32 of the Texas Constitution remain valid and enforceable. The U.S. Supreme Court in Windsor observed the fact that DOMA reject[ed] the long-established precept that the incidents, benefits, and obligations of marriage are uniform for all married couples within each State, though they may vary from one State to the next. 570 U.S. at 768, 133 S.Ct. Lazarides, 367 S.W.3d at 800, 805. courts, city and . When the ultimate and unrestrained objective of an official's duty is to interpret collateral law, a misinterpretation is not overstepping such authority; it is a compliant action even if ultimately erroneous. Appellants contend this would ensure equal treatment and be compliant with Section 6.204(c)(2) of the Texas Family Code. Jobs 5. NO. Your private bonding company may also have information concerning surety bond conditions. provider (EFSP). Houston, TX 77002 Produced by Sydney Harper and Eric Krupke. 2004). Traffic offenses, generally, are punishable by a fine of not more than $200.00 and all costs of court. The law of the case doctrine is defined as that principle under which questions of law decided on appeal to a court of last resort will govern the case throughout its subsequent stages. Loram Maint. 6. 2023 CourtCaseFinder.com - All Rights Reserved. City, 465 S.W.3d 623, 632 (Tex. Hours and Locations There are 110 court locations in the City of Houston. Suarez v. City of Tex. Filing an Eviction Case Municipal Courts - Houston Save time- Request your driver record 2019) (citing Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 22728).9 [A] court deciding a plea to the jurisdiction may consider evidence and must do so when necessary to resolve the jurisdictional issues raised. Bland Indep. 2751, 189 L.Ed.2d 675 (2014). Even assuming, arguendo, that appellant could establish the first elementthat they are taxpayers in Houston, they cannot demonstrate the second elementany illegal City expenditures. As such, there was no basis for ordering the declarations appellants seek. See Okpere v. National Oilwell Varco, L.P., 524 S.W.3d 818, 824 (Tex. Public Records; P.O. of the majority opinion.2 Because the trial court correctly determined that it lacked subject-matter jurisdiction based on governmental immunity and because this court agrees with this determination, this court has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the Pidgeon Parties' claims, and this court should not address the merits grounds in the Hybrid Motion, as the court does in section IV. See Pidgeon v. Parker, 46 F. Supp.3d 692, 700 (S.D. 1201 Franklin, Suite 3180 9. Id. Public Reports. (832) 927-0126. A clerk also attends each court docket in support of the court. Cause Number. This case was filed on October 22, 2014; however, the parties were embroiled in prior litigation, which we briefly review. They were initially successful, and a state trial judge issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the city from furnishing benefits to persons who were married in other jurisdictions to City employees of the same sex. Shortly before the injunction expired, the Mayor removed the case to federal district court in the Southern District of Texas, asserting federal-question jurisdiction, 28 U.S.C. The Mayor and the City officials have no right to violate state law merely on account of their personal belief that state law violates the Constitution, IX. In 2003, the Texas legislature amended the Texas Family Code to add Section 6.204, which among other things, prohibits recognition in Texas of lawful same-sex marriages executed in other jurisdictions. Our Terms of Service prohibit the use of CourtCaseFinder.com to determine an individual's eligibility for personal credit or employment, tenant screening, or other business transactions, or for any unlawful purposes such as stalking or harassing others. 2675. Court Suits, Driver County Civil Courts. Edited by Anita Badejo and Marc Georges. To the extent this court affirms the trial court's rulings on the merits, I respectfully dissent. See id. Background. In their Original Petition and Application for Temporary Restraining Order, Application for Temporary Injunction, and Application for Permanent Injunction, appellants allege that they are Houston taxpayers and qualified voters, that Mayor Parker's directive to the City to offer benefits to same-sex spouses of city employees who are married in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage is a violation of Texas Family Code 6.204, Texas Constitution Article I, 32, and Article II, 22 of the City of Houston Charter. Appellants sought unspecified actual damages as well as temporary and permanent injunctive relief prohibiting the City from providing these benefits. Tex. A suit brought against an employee in his official capacity actually seeks to impose liability against the governmental unit rather than on the individual specifically named and is, in all respects other than name, a suit against the entity. See Tex. 2017, pet. DeLeon, 791 F.3d. The U.S. Supreme Court rulings in these cases support the trial court's ruling here that the Mayor and the City have not committed any ultra vires or impermissible act. 3-1-1 or (713) 837-0311. See Pavan v. Smith, U.S. , 137 S. Ct. 2075, 2078, 198 L.Ed.2d 636 (2017) (per curiam). Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d at 374. Information about Cases and Dockets - Harris County, Texas With Mary Wilson and Rikki Novetsky. The Texas Supreme Court noted that Pidgeon sued the Mayor pre-Obergefell for acting ultra vires in issuing and enforcing the directive to provide benefits to employees' same-sex spouses in violation of DOMA. The U.S. Supreme Court held that under the challenged law, same-sex parents in Arkansas lack the same right as opposite-sex parents to be listed on a child's birth certificate. Id. LLC, 585 S.W.3d 70, 76 (Tex. the Harris County Justice Courts are not allowed to give legal advice. 239, 248 S.W.2d 460, 464 (1952) (It is settled law that a court will not decide disputed ultimate fact issues in a hearing on an application for a temporary injunction; nor will a temporary injunction issue if the applicant would thereby obtain substantially all the relief which is properly obtainable in a final hearing.). Search by: Name; Case Number; Address; Phone; Email; First Name: Start Here. Probate Court Records. See Chambers-Liberty Cntys. Pidgeon v. Turner, 538 S.W.3d 73, 8384, 89 (Tex. While the Texas Supreme Court still had jurisdiction over the case and no mandate had been issued, appellants filed their First Amended Petition and Application for Temporary Injunction. See Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d at 371; see also Tex. Similarly, an applicant seeking permanent injunctive relief must demonstrate: (1) a wrongful act; (2) imminent harm; (3) irreparable injury; and (4) the absence of an adequate remedy at law. 2584, 192 L.Ed.2d 609 (2015), which held that same sex couples may exercise their fundamental right to marry in all States, and that that there is no lawful basis for a State to refuse to recognize a lawful same-sex marriage performed in another State on the ground of its same-sex character. Obergefell, 576 U.S. at 681, 135 S.Ct. Warrants SearchHarris County Texas Sheriff's Office The purpose of a temporary injunction is to preserve the status quo pending a trial on the merits. Effective January 1, 2014, the Supreme Court of Texas mandated that all attorneys must electronically file court documents in the Harris Office of Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess | Family Marilyn Burgess, Harris County District Clerk and reports and filing documents in existing cases (causes). Additionally, although not binding, but offering persuasive authority, the State of Texas was appealing an injunction enjoining the State from enforcing Article I, Section 32 of the Texas Constitution, any related provisions in the Texas Family Code, and any other laws or regulations prohibiting a person from marrying another person of the same sex or recognizing same-sex marriage. DeLeon v. Perry, 975 F. Supp.2d 632, 666 (W.D. The County Civil Courts Department serves as the clerks for the four statutory County Civil Courts at Law in Harris County. At the time this suit was filed, the Freeman injunction was in effect, as it had neither been stayed, reversed, or lifted. The issue now before this trial court on a plea to the jurisdiction and motions for summary judgment is whether Mayor Turner's directive was unlawful and unauthorized in light of the United States Supreme Court's opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644, 135 S. Ct. 2584, 192 L.Ed.2d 609 (2015). See McRaven, 508 S.W.3d at 239. c. Alternatively, Mayor Parker's Interpretation of Extrinsic Law, Even if Mistaken, is not Ultra vires. 2015).13 Federal district Judge Orlando Garcia, however, stayed execution of the February 26, 2014 injunction, allowing the State to appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. 13-18-00219-CV, 622 S.W.3d 397, 402 (Tex. Appellants did not challenge the dismissal of Pidgeon I. Only the defendant can request to reschedule his/her court date. DINH, STEVEN vs CITY OF HOUSTON | Court Records - UniCourt VI, 7a, the Mayor of the City of Houston has the authority to enforce laws and ordinances and to prescribe rules governing each department necessary or expedient for the general conduct of the administrative department. Further, appellants do not plead or dispute that Mayor Parker's decision to interpret extrinsic law as requiring the City to continue to provide spousal benefits to same-sex spouses of city employees on an equal basis falls within Mayor Parker's discretion under the Houston City Charter. Harris County Child Support is a registry responsible for receipting child support payments made through our office. As discussed above, it is well-settled that ultra vires suits cannot be brought against the City, but must be brought against the government official in their official capacity. 2002) (noting that a party cannot circumvent the State's sovereign immunity by characterizing a suit for money damages as a declaratory judgment claim). See Zachry Const. * A late filing drop box is located on the outside wall (to the left of the front entrance) of the County Civil Courthouse Building. 1993). 2000). Appellants argue that spousal employment benefits are a taxpayer-funded gratuity that is entirely different from the licensing and recognition of marriage. Additionally, Section 6.204(c) prohibits the State and any of its agencies and political subdivisions from giving effect to any: (1) public act, record, or judicial proceeding that creates, recognizes, or validates a marriage between persons of the same sex or a civil union in the state or in any other jurisdiction; or. pet. It further explained: The Supreme Court held in Obergefell that the Constitution requires states to license and recognize same-sex marriages to the same extent that they license and recognize opposite-sex marriages, but it did not hold that states must provide the same publicly funded benefits to all married persons, and -- unlike the 5th Circuit in De Leon -- it did not hold that the Texas DOMAs are unconstitutional. Rather appellants alleged only that they regard same-sex relationships as immoral and sinful, in violation of their sincerely held religious beliefs and, therefore, are harmed because they believe their tax dollars have been compelled to subsidize homosexual relationship. Appellants, however, make no effort to show that such allegations are sufficient, as a matter of law, to demonstrate probable, irreparable injury or imminent harm. Lottery Comm'n v. First State Bank of DeQueen, 325 S.W.3d 628, 63335 (Tex. The Pidgeon Parties have not alleged or argued that the Mayor failed to perform a purely ministerial act. 2584. State Rules for Electronic Filing for electronic additional details. City of Houston v. Houston Mun. After considering said plea/motion and the summary judgment evidence filed by Defendants, the Court is of the opinion that said plea/motion should be GRANTED. 2015), rev'd sub nom. Information about Traffic Cases - Harris County, Texas Tex. Civ. Moreover, Harris County FAQS The answer is clear. TX Court of Appeals Opinions and Cases | FindLaw To speak with a Municipal Courts representative, please dial 3-1-1 or 713.837.0311, if outside Houston city limits. 4. County Homepage, Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs or an Appeal Bond. In this case, appellants argue that Mayor Turner is not immune from suit under the first circumstance. Based on advice of counsel, Mayor Parker decided that federal law required the City to afford same-sex spouses of City employees the same benefits as opposite-sex spouses. All checks and money orders must be made payable in United States currency. Upon transmitting a document to the e-filers EFSP, the e-filer is deemed to have delivered the document to the clerk and the document is deemed filed. The Please visit our e-File FAQs page, which includes state and Harris County e-Filing requirements, updates, and news; common reasons why files are returned; as well as a list of contacts for filers requiring assistance. The limitation of marriage to opposite-sex couples may long have seemed natural and just, but its inconsistency with the central meaning of the fundamental right to marry is now manifest. Appellants argue, instead, that Mayor Parker acted without legal authority because in issuing her directive she did not follow Baker v. Nelson, 409 U.S. 810, 93 S.Ct. Discretionary acts on the other hand require the exercise of judgment and personal deliberation. Emmett, 459 S.W.3d at 587. Learn more about posting a bond, bond forfeitures, cash bond refunds, and the Bail Bond Board here. TORRES, AIDHEE vs CITY OF HOUSTON | Court Records - UniCourt There is no difference between same- and opposite-sex couples with respect to this principle. Attn: Probate Court Department P.O. Code 37.006(b). The uncontroverted evidence here shows that, at the time this lawsuit was filed, the City was under federal court order to maintain the status quo, the federal district court in De Leon had already declared Section 6.204 unconstitutional, and Windsor had mandated that spousal benefits offered to different-sex couples must be offered to same-sex couples on an equal basis. Appellants filed a petition for review with the Texas Supreme Court, which was granted.5. Appellants have not shown they have standing to seek or that the court has jurisdiction to order, a claw back or other recoupment. Pursuant to Heinrich and the law of this case,11 we hold the City is immune from any alleged ultra vires claim. How do I file a petition for Occupational Drivers License? The central test for determining jurisdiction is whether the real substance of the plaintiff's claims falls within the scope of a waiver of immunity from suit. Tex. Occupational License during the period of suspension in the State of Texas. Thus, even if the Mayor misinterpreted the extrinsic law, this mistake would not waive the Mayor's immunity under the ultra vires exception. The Act does not waive immunity against claims seeking a declaration of the claimant's statutory rights or an interpretation of an ordinance.) (citation omitted). Thus, the trial court implicitly based the order on each ground stated in the Hybrid Motion, dismissing for lack of jurisdiction based on the first two grounds and dismissing on the merits based on the third and fourth grounds. Only when these improvident actions are unauthorized does an official shed the cloak of the sovereign and act ultra vires. & Rem. The case status is Pending - Other Pending. The standard for an ultra vires act is whether it was done without legal authority, not whether it was correct. Search Citations/Notices - txcourts.gov 2011); First State Bank of DeQueen, 325 S.W.3d at 63335. Edited by Paige Cowett. This See Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d at 37273. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 555 (Tex. This case was filed in Harris County District Courts, Harris County District Courts located in Harris, Texas. Appellants further contend the City is not immune under the second circumstance because it is a necessary party under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act (the UDJA). At that time, a section of the federal DOMA had been struck down by Windsor. You must request DSC on your arraignment setting. Consequently, immunity bars appellants' UDJA claims against the City. 37.006(b); Tex. Mayor Parker and the City filed pleas to the jurisdiction asserting governmental immunity and challenging appellants' standing to assert their claims. Jobs Because appellants seek only to enforce existing law, this exception to governmental immunity is not available. at 388. Windsor, 570 U.S. at 77475, 133 S.Ct. DUE TO COVID-19, MANY OF YOU ARE PART OF THE VULNERABLE POPULATION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE OLDER THAN 65 YEARS OF AGE, SUFFERING WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, SUCH AS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE, DIABETES, OBESITY, ASTHMA, OR WHOSE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED DUE CHEMOTHERAPY FOR CANCER OR ANY OTHER CONDITION REQUIRING SUCH THERAPY. See City of Fort Worth v. Rylie, 602 S.W.3d 459, 469 (Tex. On July 28, 2015, our court, in a per curiam opinion, reversed the trial court's temporary injunction and remanded for proceedings consistent with Obergefell and De Leon. 12. See Stamos v. Houston Indep. Under the first two grounds of the Hybrid Motion, the City Parties would be entitled to a dismissal for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Filing, docketing and assessing the costs associated with each case. Id. Electronic (non-certified) - $1.00 for up to 10 pages and .10 cents per page for each page over 10 pages, per document, Electronic (certified) - $1.00 for up to 10 pages and .10 cents per page for each page over 10 pages and a certification fee of $5.00, per document. 2020); Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation Dist. Conservation Comm'n v. ITDavy, 74 S.W.3d 849, 856 (Tex. When this suit was filed in October 2014, provision of same-sex benefits pursuant to Mayor Parker's directive was mandated by the Freeman injunction. (b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage. v. Sefzik, 355 S.W.3d 618, 622 (Tex. 2018) (citing Reata Constr. Obergefell, 576 U.S. at 67980, 135 S.Ct. 2584. ET. With Nina Feldman and . These confirmations will come through EFileTexas.gov or the EFSP. We reject appellants' attempts to recharacterize their claims as constitutional challenges to existing legislative acts to save those claims from the City's immunity bar. Please note, the District Clerks Office will no longer accept Cash Bond Assignments, in compliance with the Office of Attorney General Opinion #GA-0773. If the trial court correctly determined that it lacked subject-matter jurisdiction, then this court should affirm this ruling and vacate that part of the order in which the trial court addressed the merits. 2006) (quoting Hudson v. Wakefield, 711 S.W.2d 628, 630 (Tex. FindLaw.com Free, trusted legal information for consumers and legal professionals, SuperLawyers.com Directory of U.S. attorneys with the exclusive Super Lawyers rating, Abogado.com The #1 Spanish-language legal website for consumers, LawInfo.com Nationwide attorney directory and legal consumer resources. We disagree. As County Clerk, it is my goal to provide the residents of Harris County with quality customer service. To speak with a Municipal Courts representative, please dial 3-1-1 or 713.837.0311, if outside Houston city limits. Appellants have not and cannot demonstrate any legal purpose that would be served by such a declaration. As such, appellants' request for injunctive relief was properly dismissed. 2510, 125 L.Ed.2d 74 (1993) (explaining a decision extending the benefit of the judgment to the winning party is to be applied to other litigants whose cases were not final at the time of the first decision whether such event predate or postdate our announcement of the decision) (quotation and alteration omitted). When a plea to the jurisdiction challenges the existence of jurisdictional facts with supporting evidence, our standard of review mirrors that of a traditional summary judgment: we consider all of the evidence relevant to the jurisdictional issue in the light most favorable to the nonmovant to determine whether a genuine issue of material fact exists. App.Corpus Christi Jan. 23, 2020, no. To view a list of electronic filing providers (EFSP) that have been approved by the State visit, To see the most current list of EFSPs go to. assistance related to criminal, civil and family cases (causes). Their demand for a claw back remedy was, therefore, properly dismissed. Services. MEADOWS, DRAKE vs CITY OF HOUSTON | Court Records - UniCourt Both parties have briefed the issue and the parties have filed competing motions for summary judgment. 2018 All Rights Reserved Pidgeon v. Turner, 538 S.W.3d 73 (Tex. Payments should be made payable to Marilyn Burgess, Harris County District Clerk, and include your Case Number. In 2005, after approval by the Texas Legislature and Texas voters, Article I of the Texas Constitution was revised to include the following amendments under Section 32: (a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. The waiver of immunity contained in the Texas Declaratory Judgments Act applies only if the claimant seeks a declaratory judgment that a legislative pronouncement is unconstitutional or otherwise invalid. 2014-61812. I, 32; see H.J.R. Copyright 2023, Thomson Reuters. Instead, it serves only as a political distraction from the federal legal authority that bound the City and Mayor as of the date this lawsuit was filed, if not before. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Stay up-to-date with FindLaw's newsletter for legal professionals. Municipal Court | South Houston, TX at 77172, 133 S.Ct. In October 2014, the precedential value of Baker was being called into doubt due to the doctrinal developments in the Supreme Court's equal protection jurisprudence in the forty years after Baker. & Rem. a registry responsible for receipting child support payments made through our office. Section 6.204(b) declares void a marriage or a civil union of persons of the same sex. Id. Issuing and recording citations, notices, executions, abstracts, garnishments, writs or any other process, document or service authorized or required to be issued by the clerk. Case Summary. Safety Course Application, Traffic We're sorry for the inconvenience but Javascript is required Case.net is your access to Missouri state courts case records, including docket entries, parties, judgments, and charges in public court. Access Houston Municipal Court records in HOUSTON County for civil, family, criminal, traffic, & property case information. It is therefore ORDERED that all of Plaintiffs' claims are dismissed with prejudice. Where do I find a current list of e-filing service providers? 1. Houston Municipal Court Records Lookup. Learn more about FindLaws newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy. See Messier v. Messier, 389 S.W.3d 904, 908 (Tex. Texas. 2010) ([W]hen the validity of ordinances or statutes is challenged, the [U]DJA waives immunity to the extent it requires relevant governmental entities be made parties.) (emphasis in original); City of McKinney v. Hank's Rest. Houston Arrest and Public Records | Texas.StateRecords.org 2584. Id. Trial Coordinator: Melissa Hammond 832-927-1711, Trial Coordinator: Grace Cantada 832-927-1722, Judge Lashawn A. Williams 832-927-1703, Trial Coordinator: Vanessa Richardson 832-927-1733, Judge Manpreet Monica Singh 713-927-1704, Clerk: Mariela Santibanez 713-274-1358, Trial Coordinator: Rick Wilson 832-927-1742. Under the second two grounds, the City Parties would be entitled to dismissal of claims on summary judgment on the merits. and executions, cost statements, expunctions, outgoing transfer of venue cases (causes), Comm'n v. City of Jersey Vill., 478 S.W.3d 869, 875 (Tex. Appellants' claims, therefore, do not fall into the ultra vires exception to governmental immunity. A temporary injunction is an extraordinary remedy and does not issue as a matter of right. The trial court signed a final order granting the Hybrid Motion and dismissing all of the Pidgeon Parties' claims without specifying any ground on which the trial court relied. Sys. The County Clerk also maintains case files for the Harris County Civil and Probate Courts, as well as, the records of the Harris County Commissioners Court. We review de novo the trial court's ruling on a plea to the jurisdiction. The same is true of the completely improper proposed declaration that purports to blame the Mayor's and City's provision of spousal benefits to same-sex spouses solely on personal idiosyncrasies. Those material benefits include employment benefits. D.Appellants Not Entitled to Declaratory Relief. Res. Id. In the face of an issue or doubt as to whether a court has subject-matter jurisdiction, a court may not presume that it has subject-matter jurisdiction and proceed to adjudicate the merits. The Court in Obergefell explained: The States have contributed to the fundamental character of the marriage right by placing that institution at the center of so many facets of the legal and social order. Appellants also do not indicate if monies are to be sought from and reimbursed by third-party insurers, beneficiaries, or City employees themselves. The Municipal Court is responsible for processing and maintaining accurate records of citations, including all traffic violations and other misdemeanor or criminal charges filed by the South Houston Police Department, Code Enforcement Officer, Fire Marshal, Humane Officer and any complaints filed by citizens, that are alleged to have occurred within the territorial limits of the City of South Houston. Harris County Court Records Although appellants did not plead that the Mayor is committing an ultra vires act by declining to withdraw spousal benefits from all spouses of City employees in alleged defiance of 6.204(c)(2), they argued it in their summary judgment and now on appeal.
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