Court Opinion

ID: 2890017
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-07 20:55:39.867621+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:02.821294
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-04-0393-CR
NO. 07-04-0394-CR
NO. 07-04-0395-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL B

OCTOBER 1, 2004

______________________________

STEPHEN JAMES WILLIAMS, 
									Appellant

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, 
									Appellee

_________________________________

FROM THE 3RD DISTRICT COURT OF ANDERSON COUNTY;

NOS. 25512; 25513; 25514; HON. BASCOM W. BENTLEY, III, PRESIDING

_______________________________

Before JOHNSON, C.J., QUINN and CAMPBELL, JJ.
	Before this court is appellant's Motion to Dismiss Appeal.  The document, signed
by appellant and his attorney, requests that the notice of appeal in each case be withdrawn
and the appeals voluntarily dismissed. 
	No decision having been delivered prior to the receipt of the request for dismissal
of the notices of appeal, and all conditions applicable to the voluntary dismissal of a
criminal appeal having been met, it is ordered that the appeal be dismissed.  Having
dismissed the appeals at the personal request of appellant and his attorney, no motions
for rehearing will be entertained, and the mandates shall issue forthwith. 

							Brian Quinn 
							   Justice 

Do not publish. 

before a trial court, the act of considering and ruling
upon the motion is a ministerial act.  Eli Lilly and Co. v. Marshall, 829 S.W.2d 157, 158
(Tex. 1992).  However, the trial court has a reasonable time within which to perform that
ministerial duty.  Safety-Kleen Corp. v. Garcia, 945 S.W.2d 268, 269 (Tex.App.-San
Antonio 1997, orig. proceeding).  Whether a reasonable period of time has lapsed is
dependent on the circumstances of each case.  Barnes v. State, 832 S.W.2d 424, 426,
(Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding).  Other factors are influential such
as the trial court's actual knowledge of the motion, its overt refusal to act, the state of its
docket, and other judicial and administrative duties which must be addressed.  In re
Villarreal, 96 S.W.3d 708, 711 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 2003, orig. proceeding).  Further, the
party requesting relief must provide a sufficient record to establish his entitlement to
mandamus relief.  Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tex. 1992).  See also In re
Bates, 65 S.W.3d 133, 135 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 2001, orig. proceeding); In re Villarreal, 96
S.W.3d at 710 n.2 (filing something with the district clerk does not demonstrate that a
motion has been brought to the trial court's attention). 
 Several copies of documents presumably filed in the convicting court accompany
relator's petition for writ of mandamus.  On August 29, 2005, he filed a motion in the
convicting court requesting appointment of counsel to pursue a motion for DNA testing
pursuant to article 11.07, section four of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.  A motion
for leave to subpoena or call potential witnesses was filed on September 12, 2005, and on
September 19, 2005, he filed a motion for leave for supplemental [sic] and exhibits. 
	According to copies of three letters dated October 5, November 1, and December
19, 2005, relator corresponded with the Wilbarger County District Clerk inquiring on the
disposition of his motions.  A copy of the District Clerk's response to relator's October 5th
inquiry indicates his request was forwarded to his attorney, Earl Griffin.  The limited record
before us also contains a file-stamped motion dated November 29, 2005, for leave to
compel the District Judge of Wilbarger County to act on relator's petition for writ of habeas
corpus.  Nothing in the scant record demonstrates presentation of the motions to the trial
court and a refusal to act.  We conclude relator has not satisfied the burden to show his
entitlement to mandamus relief.  See Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 837.
	Accordingly, relator's petition for writ of mandamus is denied.
						Don H. Reavis
						    Justice