Safety National Casualty Corp., Agent Manuel Leyva D/b/a Rocky Bail Bonds, Appellant v. the State of Texas

Summary

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 22.13(a)(5) and 22.16(a) are constitutional and do not violate the separation-of-powers doctrine, reversing the Court of Appeals and remanding the case to the trial court. The Court reasoned that the statutes merely provide defenses to sureties and do not dictate when a trial court may enter a final judgment. Justice Cochran filed a concurring opinion agreeing with the majority.