Court Opinion

ID: 2948386
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 05:06:15.35357+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:06:07.589209
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS

NO. WR-24,927-68

IN RE TODD WARREN ALTSCHUL, Relator

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF MANDAMUS
CAUSE NO. 23,557-R IN THE 23RD DISTRICT COURT

FROM BRAZORIA COUNTY

Per curiam.

O R D E R

	Relator filed a motion for leave to file a writ of mandamus pursuant to the original
jurisdiction of this Court. He alleged that he had filed an Article 11.07 writ application with the
Brazoria County District Clerk but that the clerk had not timely forwarded the application to this
Court. 
	The application was abated, and the district clerk responded that no habeas writ filing had
been received. Relator replied that he did file the writ application, and he attempted to prove filing
with a copy of a writ application containing a file stamp from Brazoria County that he claimed was
stamped by the clerk. The stamp had no time or signature and was different from other Brazoria
County file stamps in the record. Relator also included a signed United States Postal Service Form
3811 (return receipt green card) indicating that a delivery to the district clerk was made on or about
the time Relator alleged that he had filed his writ application. The mandamus application was abated
again for findings from the trial court regarding whether the file stamp and the return receipt were
authentic, and the application has been returned to this Court.
 The Brazoria County District Clerk provided an affidavit to the trial court stating that both
the file stamp and the signature on the return receipt are not authentic and explaining why these
items were known to be fraudulent. Relator has provided no credible evidence showing the District
Clerk is incorrect. Based on the affidavit, the trial court finds that the items are not authentic, and
it also finds that Relator's mandamus application constitutes a frivolous and malicious action under
Section 498.0045 of the Government Code, which requires prison officials to forfeit an appropriate
amount of Relator's good time. The trial court's findings are supported by the record and are adopted
by this Court.
	Relator has abused the mandamus process by submitting false evidence. Based on Relator's
submission of false evidence to support his mandamus claim that the District Clerk violated a
ministerial duty, this Court holds that Relator has filed a frivolous or malicious lawsuit under Section
498.0045 of the Government Code. His mandamus application is therefore dismissed. 
	This Court also instructs the Honorable Abel Acosta, Clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals,
not to accept or file the instant application for a writ of mandamus or any future applications for
mandamus relief pertaining to this conviction unless Relator supports the claims raised in the future
mandamus application with certified copies of court records demonstrating that there is a ministerial
duty to compel. See Braxton v. Dunn, 803 S.W.2d 318 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
	Copies of this order shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional
Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles Division.
Filed:	April 10, 2013
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