Court Opinion

ID: 3100777
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 05:06:03.293682+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:24:41.477028
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-12-00128-CV
                                       
                            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                       
                       FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                                       
                                  AT AMARILLO
                                       
                                    PANEL A
                                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAY 3, 2012
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       
                        IN RE JAMES G. MILLER, RELATOR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before CAMPBELL and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

                              MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                       
Relator, James G. Miller, has filed an "Original Application for Writ of Mandamus" requesting this Court to issue a writ of mandamus ordering respondent, the Honorable Jim Bob Darnell, to consider and rule on Miller's pending "Motion to Vacate Sentence and Judgment as Void.  We deny Miller's request.
Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 52.3 identifies the requirements for a petition for writ of mandamus filed in this Court.  Miller has failed to comply with these requirements.  Rule 52.3 requires the person filing a petition must certify that he has reviewed the petition and concluded that every factual statement in the petition is supported by competent evidence included in the appendix or record.  See Rule 52.3(j).  Miller failed to make this certification.  Rule 52.3(a) requires that a petition must include a complete list of all parties and the names and addresses of all counsel.  Miller does not list the parties against whom he seeks mandamus relief apart from their identification in the argument portion of his petition.  Rule 52.3(b) requires that the petition include a table of contents with references to the pages of the petition and an indication of the subject matter of each issue or point raised in the petition.  Millers petition includes no table of contents.  Rule 52.3(c) requires that a petition include an index of authorities in which all authorities cited in the petition are arranged alphabetically and the page(s) upon which the authorities are cited is indicated.  Millers petition includes no index of authorities.  Rule 52.3(d) requires a statement of the case.  Millers petition does not contain a statement of the case and does not identify the nature of the underlying proceeding.  Rule 52.3(e) requires that the petition must state the basis of the courts jurisdiction.  Millers petition does not include a statement of the basis of this Courts jurisdiction over this petition, but rather just cites Texas Government Code section 22.221's grant of general mandamus authority.  Rule 52.3(f) requires the petition to include a concise statement of all issues or points presented for relief.  Millers petition includes no such statement.  Each of these items are required in a petition for writ of mandamus and, as Miller failed to include them in his petition, we will not grant the relief that he requests.
However, even if Miller had complied with the requirements of Rule 52.3, his petition fails to establish his entitlement to mandamus relief.  A trial court has a ministerial duty to consider and rule on motions properly filed and pending before the court and mandamus may issue to compel the judge to act.  Safety-Kleen Corp. v. Garcia, 945 S.W.2d 268, 269 (Tex.App.San Antonio 1997, orig. proceeding) (citing ODonniley v. Golden, 860 S.W.2d 267, 269-70 (Tex.App.Tyler 1993, orig. proceeding)).  However, the trial court is afforded a reasonable time in which to perform this ministerial duty.  Barnes v. State, 832 S.W.2d 424, 426 (Tex.App.Houston [1[st] Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding).  To establish entitlement to mandamus relief for a trial courts failure to consider and rule on a motion, the relator must establish that the trial court had a legal duty to perform a non-discretionary act, was asked to perform the act, and failed or refused to do so within a reasonable time.  In re Chavez, 62 S.W.3d 225, 228 (Tex.App.Amarillo 2001, orig. proceeding).  A court is not required to consider a motion not called to its attention.  Metzger v. Sebek, 892 S.W.2d 20, 49 (Tex.App.Houston [1[st] Dist.] 1994, writ denied).
Miller fails to establish that his motion was brought to the attention of the trial court.  According to Millers petition, he filed his motion with the Lubbock County District Clerk on November 9, 2011, a contention which is confirmed by a file stamped copy of the motion included in Miller's appendix.  Subsequently, Miller indicates that he sent notices of inquiry to the district clerk on January 3, 2012, and February 22, 2012.  However, according to the copies of these notices included in Miller's appendix, it is clear that these notices do no more than inquire of the district clerk as to the status of his "Motion to Vacate Sentence and Judgment as Void.  As such, these notices do not establish that Miller's motion was ever brought to the attention of the trial court.  Filing a motion with the district clerk does not establish that the motion was brought to the attention of the trial court because the clerk's knowledge of the motion is not imputed to the trial court.  In re Chavez, 62 S.W.3d at 228.  Because Millers petition fails to demonstrate that his motion has been actually brought to the trial courts attention or presented for a ruling, we must deny Millers petition for writ of mandamus.  See In re Posey, No. 07-03-0518-CV, 2004 Tex.App. LEXIS 695, at *2-*3 (Tex.App.Amarillo 2004, orig. proceeding).
Additionally, while a trial court has a ministerial duty to consider and rule on motions properly filed and pending before the court, the court is afforded a reasonable time in which to perform its ministerial duty.  Safety-Kleen Corp., 945 S.W.2d at 269.  Whether a reasonable time has lapsed depends on the facts of each case.  Barnes, 832 S.W.2d at 426.  Factors relevant in determining whether a reasonable time has lapsed include whether the trial court had 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 first.  In re Villarreal, 96 S.W.3d 708, 711 (Tex.App.Amarillo 2003, orig. proceeding).  As addressed above, nothing in the record before us establishes that Millers motions were ever brought to the attention of the trial court.  Further, no overt refusal to act is shown, no evidence of the state of the trial courts docket is provided, and there is no evidence of whether the trial court must afford other judicial or administrative duties priority.  It is the burden of the party requesting relief to provide a record sufficient to establish his entitlement to mandamus relief.  See Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding); In re Bates, 65 S.W.3d 133, 135 (Tex.App.Amarillo 2001, orig. proceeding). 
For the foregoing reasons, Millers petition for writ of mandamus is denied.

									Mackey K. Hancock
										Justice