Court Opinion

ID: 4223399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-11-23 04:24:58.005246+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:45.627730
License: Public Domain

IN THE
                                TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

                                        No. 10-17-00361-CR

                                   IN RE ROY LEE BOYKIN

                                        Original Proceeding

                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

        In this original proceeding, relator, Roy Lee Boykin, seeks mandamus relief in the

form of compelling the respondent, Judge Matt Johnson of the 54th Judicial District

Court, to rule on Boykin’s motion for Chapter 64 DNA testing. 1

        “A court with mandamus authority ‘will grant mandamus relief if relator can

demonstrate that the act sought to be compelled is purely ‘ministerial’ and that relator

        1 Boykin’s petition for writ of mandamus has numerous procedural deficiencies. Specifically, his
petition does not: (1) identify the parties and counsel; (2) have a table of contents; (3) have an index of
authorities; (4) have a statement of the case; (5) have a statement of jurisdiction; (6) contain an issues
presented; or (7) set forth a statement of facts. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.3(a)-(g). Boykin’s petition also lacks
an appendix containing necessary documents, including any order or motion complained of, outlined in
Rule 52.3(k). See id. at 52.3(k). Moreover, the petition lacks proof of service on the respondent trial judge
and the real party in interest, the State. See id. at R. 9.5, 52.2. Because of our disposition and to expedite
this matter, we will implement Rule 2 and suspend these rules. See id. at R. 2.
has no other adequate legal remedy.’“ In re Piper, 105 S.W.3d 107, 109 (Tex. App.—Waco

2003, orig. proceeding) (quoting State ex rel. Rosenthal v. Poe, 98 S.W.3d 194, 197-99 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2003) (orig. proceeding)). Consideration of a motion properly filed and before

the court is ministerial. State ex rel. Hill v. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Dist., 34 S.W.3d 924,

927 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (orig. proceeding).

       Mandamus may issue to compel a trial court to rule on a motion which has
       been pending before the court for a reasonable period of time. See In re
       Hearn, 137 S.W.3d 681, 685 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, orig.
       proceeding); In re Keeter, 134 S.W.3d 250, 252-53 (Tex. App.—Waco 2003,
       orig. proceeding); In re Chavez, 62 S.W.3d 225, 228 (Tex. App.—Amarillo
       2001, orig. proceeding); Barnes v. State, 832 S.W.2d 424, 426 (Tex. App.—
       Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding); see also In re Shredder Co., 225
S.W.3d 676, 679 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2006, orig. proceeding). To obtain
       mandamus relief for such refusal, a relator must establish: (1) the motion
       was properly filed and has been pending for a reasonable time; (2) the
       relator requested a ruling on the motion; and (3) the trial court refused to
       rule. See Hearn, 137 S.W.3d at 685; Keeter, 134 S.W.3d at 252; Chavez, 62
S.W.3d at 228; Barnes, 832 S.W.2d at 426; see also Shredder Co., 225 S.W.3d at
       679. The mere filing of a motion with a trial court clerk does not equate to
       a request that the trial court rule on the motion. See Hearn, 137 S.W.3d at
       685; Chavez, 62 S.W.3d at 228; Barnes, 832 S.W.2d at 426; cf. Shredder Co., 225
S.W.3d at 680 (“Relator has made repeated requests for a ruling on its
       motion.”).

In re Sarkissian, 243 S.W.3d 860, 861 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, orig. proceeding).

       A trial judge has a reasonable time to perform the ministerial duty of considering

and ruling on a motion properly filed and before the judge. Chavez, 62 S.W.3d at 228.

However, that duty generally does not arise until the movant has brought the motion to

the trial judge's attention; mandamus will not lie unless the movant makes such a

showing and the trial judge then fails or refuses to rule within a reasonable time. See id.

In re Boykin                                                                                 Page 2
       Boykin bears the burden of providing this Court with a sufficient record to

establish his right to mandamus relief. See In re Blakeney, 254 S.W.3d 659, 661 (Tex. App.—

Texarkana 2008, orig. proceeding); see also In re Raymer, No. 10-13-00280-CR, 2013 Tex.

App. LEXIS 12408, at *4 (Tex. App.—Oct. 3, 2013, orig. proceeding) (mem. op., not

designated for publication). Here, there is no record showing that Boykin has brought

the matter to the attention of the trial judge and that the trial judge has then failed or

refused to rule within a reasonable time. Accordingly, we deny the petition for writ of

mandamus.

                                                AL SCOGGINS
                                                Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray,
       Justice Davis, and
       Justice Scoggins
Petition denied
Opinion delivered and filed November 15, 2017
[OT06]

In re Boykin                                                                         Page 3