Court Opinion

ID: 4172427
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-30 08:22:13.491265+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:54:54.423137
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-17-00144-CR
                          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
              TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
                                     TYLER, TEXAS

IN RE:                                           §
ANTHONY DORSETT PURVIS,                          §      ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
RELATOR                                          §

                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                      PER CURIAM
       Relator, Anthony Dorsett Purvis, files this original proceeding in which he complains of
the trial court’s failure to rule on his motion for DNA testing. We deny the petition.

                                          BACKGROUND
       According to Relator, on January 12, 2017, he filed separate motions for DNA testing
and appointment of counsel with the trial court. He states that, on February 2, he received a form
for the appointment of counsel, which he completed and returned to the trial court. Relator
maintains that he sent a letter to the court clerk on March 16, in which he inquired about the
status of his motion for DNA testing, but has not received a response.

                                 PREREQUISITES TO MANDAMUS
       To obtain mandamus relief in a criminal case, the relator must show that he does not have
an adequate remedy at law and the act he seeks to compel is ministerial (not involving a
discretionary or judicial decision). State ex rel. Young v. Sixth Judicial Dist. Court of Appeals,
236 S.W.3d 207, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (orig. proceeding). If the relator fails to satisfy
either prong of this test, mandamus relief should be denied. Id. The relator must also furnish a
record sufficient to support his claim for mandamus relief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7(a).
                                            AVAILABILITY OF MANDAMUS
         We first note that Relator has failed to file the record required by Texas Rule of Appellate
Procedure 52.7(a)(1), which requires that a relator file “a certified or sworn copy of every
document that is material to the relator’s claim for relief and that was filed in any underlying
proceeding.” Id. Moreover, to obtain a writ of mandamus compelling a trial court to consider
and rule on a motion, the relator must show that the trial court (1) had a legal duty to perform a
nondiscretionary act, (2) was asked to perform the act, and (3) failed or refused to do so. In re
Molina, 94 S.W.3d 885, 886 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 2003, orig. proceeding). Generally, a trial
court has a nondiscretionary duty to consider and rule on a motion within a reasonable time. In
re Thomas, No. 12–05–00261–CV, 2005 WL 2155244, at *1 (Tex. App.–Tyler Sept. 7, 2005,
orig. proceeding) (mem. op.). However, a trial court cannot be expected to consider a motion not
called to its attention. See In re Chavez, 62 S.W.3d 225, 228 (Tex. App.–Amarillo 2001, orig.
proceeding). It is incumbent upon the relator to establish that the motion has been called to the
trial court’s attention. See id. (also noting that clerk’s knowledge not imputed to trial court). In
this case, Relator has not shown that he called his motion to the trial court’s attention.
Consequently, he has not established that mandamus relief is available for the trial court’s failure
to rule on his motion for DNA testing.

                                                       DISPOSITION
         Because Relator has not shown that he is entitled to mandamus relief, we deny Relator’s
petition for writ of mandamus.
Opinion delivered May 24, 2017.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.

                                             (DO NOT PUBLISH)

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                                  COURT OF APPEALS
     TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                                          JUDGMENT

                                             MAY 24, 2017

                                        NO. 12-17-00144-CR

                                ANTHONY DORSETT PURVIS,
                                        Relator
                                          V.

                                  HON. MARK A. CALHOON,
                                        Respondent

                                       ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

              ON THIS DAY came to be heard the petition for writ of mandamus filed by
Anthony Dorsett Purvis; who is the relator in Cause No. 28141, pending on the docket of the 3rd
Judicial District Court of Anderson County, Texas. Said petition for writ of mandamus having
been filed herein on May 12, 2017, and the same having been duly considered, because it is the
opinion of this Court that the writ should not issue, it is therefore CONSIDERED, ADJUDGED
and ORDERED that the said petition for writ of mandamus be, and the same is, hereby denied.
                   By per curiam opinion.
                   Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J. and Neeley, J.

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