Ex Parte: Juan Jose Gonzalez

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AT AUSTIN NO. 3-93-643-CV EX PARTE: JUAN JOSE GONZALEZ, RELATOR HABEAS CORPUS PROCEEDING FROM HAYS COUNTY PER CURIAM Relator Juan Jose Gonzalez filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in this Court seeking discharge from the custody of the sheriff of Hays County. See Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 22.221(d) (West Supp. 1994); Tex. R. App. P. 120. The district court found that relator failed to pay court-ordered child support to Esther Gonzalez and ordered relator confined for a period of 180 days for each act of contempt and until he paid the arrearage of $32,739 and costs of court. This Court issued the writ of habeas corpus on December 22, 1993, and set the matter for submission on oral argument on February 9, 1994. See Tex. R. App. P. 120(d). Relator has now filed a motion to dismiss the petition for writ of habeas corpus. See generally Tex. R. App. P. 59(a)(1)(B). In the proceeding below, the district court of Hays County granted relator's motion for new trial and rendered an order setting aside the order underlying this habeas corpus proceeding. The sole function of petition for writ of habeas corpus is to determine whether the relator is unlawfully restrained and, if so, to secure the relator's discharge. Ex parte Gordon, 584 S.W.2d 686, 688 (Tex. 1979); see Cine-Matics, Inc. v. State, 578 S.W.2d 530, 532 (Tex. Civ. App.--Austin 1979, no writ). Because the district court has set aside the order committing relator to the custody of the Hays County sheriff, our judgment can have no practical legal effect and the cause is moot. See City of W. Univ. Place v. Martin, 123 S.W.2d 638, 639 (Tex. 1939); Texas Dept. of Health v. Long, 659 S.W.2d 158, 160-61 (Tex. App.--Austin 1983, no writ). Accordingly, we grant relator's motion and dismiss the petition for writ of habeas corpus. Before Justices Powers, Kidd and B. A. Smith Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Dismissed on Relator's Motion Filed: February 9, 1994 Do Not Publish