This is an appeal from an order of the district court revoking probation in each of the above causes. Because the underlying indictments in each case failed to properly allege an offense under law, the judgments of conviction are void since the trial court lacked jurisdiction. Since the district court lacked jurisdiction to convict, it follows that the court also lacked jurisdiction to revoke probation. Accordingly, the order is reversed and the defendant discharged. We also hold that we have jurisdiction to declare void a judgment rendered where the trial court lacked jurisdiction even though no point of error on this ground has been assigned.
On October 27, 1978, appellant pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, to wit: Secobarbitol in cause no. F77-4418 (our cause no. 05-81-00572-CR). In cause no. F77 — 4417 (our cause no. 05-81-00571-CR) appellant pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, namely: Biphetamine. In each cause, the trial court assessed a ten year probated term. A revocation hearing was held upon the State’s motion to revoke probation on January 26, 1981. At that time, the trial court revoked probation in both causes and sentenced defendant to ten years imprisonment in each case.
The record in these causes is before us with a statement of facts but no brief has been filed on behalf of defendant in either cause and there is no showing of indigency. However, our examination of the record reveals fundamental error in the underlying judgments of conviction in that each indictment fails to allege an offense. The indictment in cause no. F77-4418 alleges that on March 25, 1977, appellant knowingly and intentionally delivered a controlled substance, Secobarbital. Prior to the 1979 amendment of Section 4.02 of the Controlled Substances Act, Secobarbitol was not specifically listed within a statutory penalty group.
1
In a prosecution under the Controlled Substances Act for the manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance not specifically named in a penalty group, but which is otherwise described in a penalty group, such description is an essential element of the offense which must be alleged in the indictment in order to state an offense.
Ex parte Wilson,
Similarly, the indictment in F77 — 4417 alleges that appellant delivered a controlled
*15
substance by the name of Biphetamine.
2
This substance has never been specifically listed within an appropriate penalty group, either before or after the 1979 amendment of Section 4.02. Because the indictment does not allege facts showing why Bipheta-mine is a controlled substance, it likewise fails to state an offense.
See Ex parte Wilson,
Although the trial court’s orders are all void for lack of jurisdiction, we have no assigned error before us because no briefs have been filed. Prior to September 1, 1981, this error could be reviewed “in the interest of justice” pursuant to former Article 40.09, § 13 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
See Bell
v.
State,
Before the enactment of this provision, the appellate courts of Texas did not consider such an enabling provision a necessary prerequisite to
sua sponte
appellate review of certain contentions. In
Scott v. State,
There is no assignment of errors, as is required by the rules of this court and we would not feel bound in an ordinary civil case to look through the record to discover errors not formally complained of. But in a case affecting the life or liberty of a citizen, we feel bound to see at least that by the facts proved the court below had jurisdiction of the case.
If satisfied, from an examination of the record, that the accused has not been convicted according to law, the judgment must be set aside when the error is of such a character that it cannot be considered as waived by the defendant or cured by the judgment; although, as in the present case, neither exception, motion or assignment of error is presented on behalf of appellant.
Thus the courts in
Sutton
and
Lunsford
reviewed fundamental error
sua sponte
rather than suffer the miscarriage of justice which would result if the court affirmed the causes where the courts below lacked jurisdiction. This policy is sound and we adhere to it and hold that we have both the jurisdiction and the duty to reverse these void convictions even though no point of error has been assigned on this ground. In our view, an appellant court does not need enabling legislation to set aside a void judgment, whether that judgment be civil or criminal. Indeed, for years in civil cases, we have been raising jurisdictional questions on our own motion and dismissing the trial court’s judgment where the trial court lacked jurisdiction.
See McCauley v. Consolidated Underwriters,