Ex Parte Shawn Olali v. the State of Texas
CourtTexas Court of Appeals, 2nd District (Fort Worth)
Date FiledAugust 13, 2026
Docket02-26-00132-CR
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
In the
Court of Appeals
Second Appellate District of Texas
at Fort Worth
___________________________
No. 02-26-00132-CR
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EX PARTE SHAWN OLALI
On Appeal from the 367th District Court
Denton County, Texas
Trial Court No. 26-3948-367
Before Birdwell, Bassel, and Womack, JJ.
Per Curiam Memorandum Opinion
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant Shawn Olali, proceeding pro se, attempts to appeal the trial court’s
order denying his pretrial application for a writ of habeas corpus, which related to his
pretrial confinement in trial court cause number CR-2025-01234-D. After he filed his
notice of appeal, Olali was convicted in trial court cause number CR-2025-01234-D.
A pretrial application for writ of habeas corpus is appropriate only when
granting relief would result in the applicant’s release. Ex parte Hammons, 631 S.W.3d
715, 716 (Tex. Crim. App. 2021) (quoting Ex parte Weise, 55 S.W.3d 617, 619 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2001)). Thus, “[a]n applicant must be restrained illegally to be entitled to
relief.” Headrick v. State, 988 S.W.2d 226, 228 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
Here, Olali’s conviction renders his application moot. See Martinez v. State, 826
S.W.2d 620, 620 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). We have no jurisdiction to decide moot
controversies. Ex parte Huerta, 582 S.W.3d 407, 411 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2018, pet.
ref’d). Accordingly, we notified Olali of our concern that his appeal had become moot
because he had been convicted. We warned him that the appeal would be dismissed
unless he filed a response showing grounds for continuing the appeal. Olali filed a
response, but it does not show grounds for continuing the appeal.
Because we do not have jurisdiction to consider moot controversies, we
dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction. See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(f); Ex parte Harris,
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Nos. 02-23-00154-CR, 02-23-00155-CR, 2023 WL 5767370, at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth Sept. 7, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). 1
Per Curiam
Do Not Publish
Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)
Delivered: August 13, 2026
1
Even if Olali’s conviction had not rendered his appeal moot, we still would
not have jurisdiction over the appeal because it is apparent from the record that the
trial court did not rule on the merits of Olali’s application. See Ex parte Mims, Nos. 02-
24-00324-CR, 02-24-00325-CR, 02-24-00326-CR, 2025 WL 647354, at *2 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth Feb. 27, 2025, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for
publication) (first citing Ex parte Villanueva, 252 S.W.3d 391, 394–95 (Tex. Crim. App.
2008); and then citing Ex parte Martinez, No. 04-22-00475-CR, 2024 WL 349311, at *2
(Tex. App.—San Antonio Jan. 31, 2024, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for
publication)).
3