Court Opinion

ID: 4295478
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-07-18 19:55:47.093165+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:14.670313
License: Public Domain

In The
              Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

                  No. 06-18-00115-CR

         IN RE KINNEY LAWRENCE BAILEY

             Original Mandamus Proceeding

      Before Morriss, C.J., Moseley and Burgess, JJ.
      Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Morriss
                           MEMORANDUM OPINION
           Kinney Lawrence Bailey, proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for writ of mandamus,

asking this Court to direct the Honorable Brad Morin, Judge of the 71st Judicial District Court, to

file a “certificate of appeal” under Article 44.02 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure1 and to

file a notice of appeal for Bailey.

           In his petition for writ of mandamus, Bailey complains that he was deprived of his right to

appeal because his trial counsel failed to file a notice of appeal and because the trial court failed

to advise him of his right to appeal.

           Mandamus relief will be granted only when the record establishes (1) a clear abuse of

discretion or the violation of a duty imposed by law and (2) the absence of a clear and adequate

remedy at law. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839–40 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding); see

In re Columbia Med. Ctr. of Las Colinas, 290 S.W.3d 204, 207 (Tex. 2009) (orig. proceeding).

To be entitled to mandamus relief, a relator must show both the lack of an adequate remedy at law

to redress the alleged harm and that he or she seeks to compel 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) (orig. proceeding). An act is ministerial

if it constitutes a duty clearly fixed and required by law. State ex rel. Curry v. Gray, 726 S.W.2d
125, 128 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987) (orig. proceeding). Further, the relator must provide this Court

with a record sufficient to establish the right to mandamus relief. Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 837; In re

1
    See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 44.02 (West 2018).
                                                         2
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 187 S.W.3d 197, 198–99 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, orig. proceeding);

see TEX. R. APP. P. 52.3.

          “A defendant in a criminal case has the right to appeal under Code of Criminal Procedure

article 44.02 and these rules.” TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2). Under the appellate rules, an appeal by

the defendant is perfected by the timely filing of a written notice of appeal sufficient to show the

appealing party’s desire to appeal the trial court’s judgment. TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(b), (c)(2). This

written notice of appeal is required to be filed by the defendant or his counsel, not the trial court.

See Brunswick v. State, 931 S.W.2d 9, 11 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, no pet.). Bailey

requests this Court to order the district court to file a notice of appeal on his behalf. However,

since there is no duty imposed by law that requires a district court to file a notice of appeal on

behalf of a defendant, the requested mandamus relief is not available regarding filing a notice of

appeal.

          Bailey also requests that this Court order the trial court to file a certificate of appeal. Rule

25.2 provides that “[t]he trial court shall enter a certification of the defendant’s right of appeal

each time it enters a judgment of guilt or other appealable order.” TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(a)(2). In

his petition, however, Bailey has not alleged that the district court failed to enter the certification

required by Rule 25.2 or that he filed a motion with the district court requesting that it enter the

certification. To be entitled to mandamus relief, the relator must file a motion with the trial court

and show that the trial court received, was aware of, and was asked to rule on the motion. In re

Grulkey, No. 14-10-00450-CV, 2010 WL 2171408, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

May 28, 2010, orig. proceeding) (per curiam) (mem. op.) (citing In re Villarreal, 96 S.W.3d 708,
                                                     3
710 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2003, orig. proceeding)); see also In re Blakeney, 254 S.W.3d 659, 662

(Tex. App.—Texarkana 2008, orig. proceeding) (“Showing that a motion was filed with the court

clerk does not constitute proof that the motion was brought to the trial court’s attention or presented

to the trial court with a request for a ruling.”). Even assuming the district court has jurisdiction to

consider his motion, Bailey has failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to mandamus relief.

       For the reasons stated, we deny his petition for writ of mandamus.

                                               Josh R. Morriss, III
                                               Chief Justice

Date Submitted:        July 11, 2018
Date Decided:          July 12, 2018
Do Not Publish

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