Opinion
NUMBER 13-18-00545-CR NUMBER 13-18-00546-CR
10-03-2018
IN RE RANDY WILLIAMS
On Petition for Writ of Mandamus.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Rodriguez, Contreras, and Benavides
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Contreras
See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.8(d) ("When denying relief, the court may hand down an opinion but is not required to do so."); TEX. R. APP. P. 47.4 (distinguishing opinions and memorandum opinions).
Relator Randy Williams, proceeding pro se, filed a petition for writ of mandamus in the above causes through which he contends that the trial court failed to issue a ruling on his motions for post-conviction DNA testing. We deny the petition for writ of mandamus.
Relator's petition for writ of mandamus concerns trial court cause numbers 85-CR-455-C and 85-CR-456-C in the 94th District Court of Nueces County, docketed respectively in appellate court cause numbers 13-18-00545-CR and 13-18-00546-CR. This Court has previously considered other original proceedings arising from these trial court cases. See In re Williams, Nos. 13-13-00451-CR & 13-13-00452-CR, 2013 WL 4734771, at *1 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Sept. 3, 2013, orig. proceeding) (mem. op. per curiam, not designated for publication).
As a preliminary matter, relator filed a "Motion for Leave" to file his petition for writ of mandamus in these causes. A motion for leave to file a petition for writ of mandamus is required when relief is sought from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. See TEX. R. APP. P. 72.1. However, the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure no longer require the relator to file a motion for leave to file an original proceeding in the intermediate appellate courts. See generally TEX. R. APP. P. 52 & cmt.; see also In re Salahuddin, No. 13-13-00135-CR, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 2403, at *2 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Mar. 11, 2013, orig. proceeding) (mem. op. per curiam, not designated for publication). Accordingly, relator's motion for leave is dismissed as moot.
To be entitled to mandamus relief, the relator must establish both that he has no adequate remedy at law to redress his alleged harm, and that what he seeks to compel is a ministerial act not involving a discretionary or judicial decision. State ex rel. Young v. Sixth Judicial Dist. Court of Appeals at Texarkana, 236 S.W.3d 207, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). If relator fails to meet both requirements, then the petition for writ of mandamus should be denied. See id. Consideration of a request or motion that is properly filed and before the court is a ministerial act. State ex rel. Curry v. Gray, 726 S.W.2d 125, 128 (Tex. Crim. App.1987) (orig. proceeding).
To obtain mandamus relief for the trial court's refusal to rule on a motion, a relator must establish: (1) the motion was properly filed and has been pending for a reasonable time; (2) the relator requested a ruling on the motion; and (3) the trial court refused to rule. In re Sarkissian, 243 S.W.3d 860, 861 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, orig. proceeding); In re Hearn, 137 S.W.3d 681, 685 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, orig. proceeding); In re Keeter, 134 S.W.3d 250, 252 (Tex. App.—Waco 2003, orig. proceeding). The relator must show that the trial court received, was aware of, and was asked to rule on the motion. In re Blakeney, 254 S.W.3d 659, 661 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2008, orig. proceeding); In re Villarreal, 96 S.W.3d 708, 710 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2003, orig. proceeding).
It is the relator's burden to properly request and show entitlement to mandamus relief. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding); In re Davidson, 153 S.W.3d 490, 491 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2004, orig. proceeding); see Barnes v. State, 832 S.W.2d 424, 426 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding) ("Even a pro se applicant for a writ of mandamus must show himself entitled to the extraordinary relief he seeks."). In addition to other requirements, the relator must include a statement of facts supported by citations to "competent evidence included in the appendix or record," and must also provide "a clear and concise argument for the contentions made, with appropriate citations to authorities and to the appendix or record." See generally TEX. R. APP. P. 52.3. The relator must also file an appendix and record sufficient to support the claim for mandamus relief. See id. R. 52.3(k) (specifying the required contents for the appendix); R. 52.7(a) (specifying the required contents for the record); see also Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 837; In re Blakeney, 254 S.W.3d at 661.
The Court, having examined and fully considered the petition for writ of mandamus, the limited record provided, and the applicable law, is of the opinion that relator has not established his entitlement to the relief sought. The record before the Court fails to establish that: (1) the motions were properly filed and have been pending for a reasonable time; (2) the relator requested a ruling on the motions; and (3) the trial court refused to rule. See In re Sarkissian, 243 S.W.3d at 861; In re Hearn, 137 S.W.3d at 685; In re Keeter, 134 S.W.3d at 252. Moreover, relator has not established that the trial court received, was aware of, and was asked to rule on the motions. See In re Blakeney, 254 S.W.3d at 661. Accordingly, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus and all relief sought in these causes.
DORI CONTRERAS
Justice Do not publish.
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b). Delivered and filed the 3rd day of October, 2018.