Opinion
12-24-00235-CV
07-31-2024
IN RE:COURTNEY B. WARREN, RELATOR
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
PER CURIAM
Courtney B. Warren, an attorney acting pro se, filed this original proceeding to challenge various actions taken by Respondent. On July 23, 2024, the Clerk of this Court informed Relator that her petition fails to comply with appellate Rules 52.3(b), (j)-(k) and 52.7. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.3 (form and contents of petition); Tex.R.App.P. 52.7 (record). The notice warned that the petition would be referred to this Court for dismissal unless Relator provided an amended petition and the record on or before July 26. This deadline expired without a response from Relator.
Respondent is the Honorable Taylor B. Heaton, Judge of the 475th District Court in Smith County, Texas. The State of Texas and Vincente Zavaleta are the Real Parties in Interest.
Generally, a party seeking mandamus relief must bring forward all that is necessary to establish a claim for mandamus relief. See Tex.R.App.P. 52. The petition must contain certain items, including an appendix. See Tex.R.App.P. 52.3. Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 52.7 requires the relator to file a record as part of her petition in an original proceeding. Tex.R.App.P. 52.7. Specifically, a relator must file (1) a certified or sworn copy of every document that is material to her claim for relief and that was filed in any underlying proceeding; and (2) "a properly authenticated transcript of any relevant testimony from any underlying proceeding, including any exhibits offered in evidence, or a statement that no testimony was adduced in connection with the matter complained." Tex.R.App.P. 52.7(a).
It is a relator's burden to provide this Court with a record sufficient to establish the right to mandamus relief. See In re Mack, No. 12-19-00238-CV, 2019 WL 3024757, at *1 (Tex. App.-Tyler July 10, 2019, orig. proceeding) (mem op.). In this case, Relator did not provide a record in accordance with Rule 52.7. Absent a record, we cannot determine whether Relator is entitled to mandamus relief. See id. Because Relator's petition fails to comply with the appellate rules, nothing is presented for this Court to review. Therefore, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus. All pending motions are overruled as moot.
JUDGMENT
ON THIS DAY came to be heard the petition for writ of mandamus filed by Courtney B. Warren; who is the relator in appellate cause number 12-24-00235-CV and counsel to the defendant in trial court cause number 475-1501-23, pending on the docket of the 475th Judicial District Court of Smith County, Texas. Said petition for writ of mandamus having been filed herein on July 23, 2024, and the same having been duly considered, because it is the opinion of this Court that the writ should not issue, it is therefore CONSIDERED, ADJUDGED and ORDERED that the said petition for writ of mandamus be, and the same is, hereby denied.