Court Opinion

ID: 9653635
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 17:50:36.070268+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:00.515668
License: Public Domain

PHILLIPS, Judge,
concurring and dissenting.
I concur in the denial of this application for a Writ of Mandamus against the trial judge in this cause. Although I have serious reservations whether a pro forma paper announcement of ready by the State is sufficient to satisfy the requirement of Article 32A.02, V.A.C.C.P, the record before us supports the State’s contention that it was ready.
Besides the two announcements of ready, the record shows that an examining trial had been held on January 6, 1977, wherein the State successfully shouldered its burden of showing a magistrate that there is sufficient evidence that the accusation is probably true (probable cause) and the accused should be committed. See Chapter 16, V.A. C.C.P. There is also an application for subpoenas by the State for six witnesses to appear in court on May 2, 1977 — the first trial setting. Finally, the Assistant District Attorney called by petitioner testified that the State was indeed ready for trial in all 1200 causes wherein announcements of ready were filed.
The petition for mandamus relief should be denied on its merits and its lack of evidentiary support.
I dissent to the discussion and conclusion reached on whether this case presents a proper mandamus cause.
With respect to whether there exists an adequate alternative remedy at law, the majority indicates that traditional appellate process embodies such. However, an appeal necessarily requires a trial of the charges as a condition precedent. The whole purpose of the Speedy Trial Act (Chapter 32A, V.A. C.C.P.) is to remedy inexcusable delays with a dismissal of the charges with prejudice. See Article 32A.02, Sections 1(1) and 2(a), (c), supra. Thus, any remedy accorded one deprived of the rights created under Chapter 32A, supra, is too little, too late, and therefore an inadequate alternative remedy. See 37 Tex.Jur.2d, Mandamus, Section 14.
The majority also declines to recognize this petition as sufficient for mandamus consideration because it decides any trial court conclusion that the facts have shown that an exception under Section 4 of Article 32A.02, supra, exists is a discretionary, as opposed to ministerial, action. First, such treatment of findings in cases of extraordinary writ applications is in itself extraordinary. Ordinarily, the findings and conclusions of the trial courts in such proceedings are considered, but have never been binding on this Court. Ex parte Hagans, Tex.Cr.App., 558 S.W.2d 457; Ex parte Williams, Tex.Cr.App., 561 S.W.2d 1.
Second, even should we embrace such a characterization of the trial court’s eviden-*915tiary role in extraordinary writ proceedings, mandamus should be available to protect our citizenry from any abuse of such “discretion.” 37 Tex.Jur.2d, Mandamus, Section 22. If the evidence in the record did not support the trial judge’s ruling, as I believe it did, entry of an order denying the Motion to Dismiss would be an abuse of discretion. This position is supported by the clear mandatory language of the statute. 37 Tex.Jur.2d, Mandamus, Sections 3, 6, 15, and 16; Mora v. Ferguson, 145 Tex. 498, 199 S.W.2d 759 (1947).
The rule denying mandamus with respect to matters of a discretionary character is not without limitation, and the writ may issue in a proper case to correct a clear abuse of discretion. When all of the facts and circumstances of a case unquestionably require a court to exercise a discretionary power to prevent manifest injustice, and there is no fact or circumstance supporting or tending to support a contrary conclusion, there is no room for the exercise of discretion.
37 Tex.Jur.2d, Mandamus, Section 46, p. 672.
Besides support for the validity of the State’s announcement of ready, there was other evidence indicating an effort on the part of the El Paso County district courts to effectuate the Speedy Trial Act.1
I dissent to what I perceive as unnecessarily broad pronouncements concerning the general availability of mandamus and alternative legal relief in this type of cause. I concur, however, in the denial of relief here.

. There are 10 district courts in El Paso County. See Articles 199 (34, 41, 65), (120) and (171); 199a, Sections 3.006, 3.032, 3.038, 3.068; 1926a, Section 2.28; V.A.C.S. The “Official District Court Monthly Report” to the Texas Judicial Council for July through October shows the following criminal and civil dispositions, respectively:
July - 68 and 663,
August - 98 and 610,
September - 72 and 555, and
October - 92 and 534.
This unscientific survey reflects an upward trend in felony case dispositions and a reduction trend in civil case dispositions. Defense Exhibit 1, the minutes for the October 27, 1978, meeting of El Paso County District Judges reflects affirmative steps authorized to be taken to distribute the criminal caseload among all 10 district courts. Also, the district courts have implemented a “running” docket whereby docketed cases remain so until called for actual trial. This is in contrast to prior procedure whereby if not called, a cause would be dropped from the docket and reset, as in petitioner’s case. Whether this evidence shows compliance with the mandate on priorities found in Article 32A.01, supra, is a question not before us. It does, however, remove the trial court’s conclusion that the facts show a Section 4(10) exception from the realm of an arbitrary and capricious discharge of judicial responsibility, i. e., an abuse of discretion.