Court Opinion

ID: 4258726
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-28 07:03:57.675877+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:23.418795
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                                 05-18-00191-CV
                                                                                       FIFTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                                 DALLAS, TEXAS
                                                                                               3/26/2018 3:53 PM
                                                                                                      LISA MATZ
                                                                                                          CLERK

                              No. 05-18-00191-CV
                              No. 05-18-00192-CV
                              No. 05-18-00193-CV                              FILED IN
                                                                       5th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                           DALLAS, TEXAS
                     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                  FOR THE FIFTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS                      3/26/2018 3:53:09 PM
                             AT DALLAS                                       LISA MATZ
                                                                               Clerk
                        ________________________

                              IN RE JUAN SUAREZ,
                                         Relator

                    HON. STEPHANIE N. MITCHELL,
                                       Respondent

                             THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                 Real Party in Interest
                        ________________________

            Original Proceeding from the 291st Judicial District Court
                            of Dallas County, Texas
             Cause Nos. F12-53672-U, F12-54454-U, F12-54455-U
                        ________________________

                  STATE’S RESPONSE TO PETITION
                     FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
                        ________________________

                                                      Counsel of Record:

FAITH JOHNSON                                         RICARDO VELA, JR.
Criminal District Attorney                            Assistant District Attorney
Dallas County, Texas                                  State Bar No. 24072800
                                                      Frank Crowley Court Building
                                                      133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19
                                                      Dallas, Texas 75207-4399
                                                      (214) 653-3625 (Phone)
                                                      (214) 653-3643 (Fax)
                                                      ricardo.vela@dallascounty.org

                             Attorneys for the State of Texas
                  IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Relator:                   JUAN SUAREZ, PRO SE

                           TDCJ# 01846207
                           McConnell Unit
                           3001 S. Emily Dr.
                           Beeville, Texas 78102

Respondent:                HON. STEPHANIE N. MITCHELL , PRESIDING JUDGE

                           291st Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas
                           133 North Riverfront Boulevard
                           LB-34
                           Dallas, Texas 75207

Real Party in Interest:    THE STATE OF TEXAS

Represented by:            Hon. Faith Johnson, Criminal District Attorney
                           Ricardo Vela, Jr., Assistant Criminal District Attorney

                           Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
                           133 North Riverfront Boulevard
                           LB-19
                           Dallas, Texas 75207

                                     ii
                                              TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL .............................................................. ii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ............................................................................................. iv

STATEMENT OF THE CASE .......................................................................................... 1

ISSUES PRESENTED ....................................................................................................... 1

ARGUMENT ........................................................................................................................ 2

    Response to Issue One: Relator has an adequate remedy by appeal and
    therefore is not entitled to a writ of mandamus. ............................................................ 2
    Response to Issue Two: Because Relator has received the relief he seeks via
    mandamus, this issue is moot. .......................................................................................... 3
PRAYER ................................................................................................................................. 5

CERTIFICATE OF WORD COMPLIANCE.................................................................. 6

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ........................................................................................... 6

APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................ 7

    Appendix I .......................................................................................................................... 8
    Appendix II....................................................................................................................... 15
    Appendix III ..................................................................................................................... 19

                                                                    iii
                                        INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Baluch v. Miller,
  774 S.W.2d 299 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1989, orig. proceeding) ...................................... 5

Barnes v. State,
  832 S.W.2d 424 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding)................ 4

Dow Chem. Co. v. Garcia,
  909 S.W.2d 503 (Tex. 1995) (orig. proceeding) .............................................................. 5

Eli Lilly & Co. v. Marshall,
  829 S.W.2d 157 (Tex. 1992) .............................................................................................. 4

Harrell v. State,
  286 S.W.3d 315 (Tex. 2009) .............................................................................................. 3

In re Hill,
   No. 05-15-01478-CV, 2016 WL 55557 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 5, 2016, orig.
   proceeding) (mem. op.) ..................................................................................................... 1

In re Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc.,
   166 S.W.3d 732 (Tex. 2005) (orig. proceeding) .............................................................. 5

In re Prudential Ins. Co.,
   148 S.W.3d 124 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding) .............................................................. 3

In re Rowe,
   No. 05-15-00159-CV, 2015 WL 1063111 (Tex. App.—Dallas, Mar. 11, 2015, orig.
   proceeding) (mem. op.) ..................................................................................................... 5

In re State ex rel. Weeks,
   391 S.W.3d 117 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (orig. proceeding) ......................................... 2

In re Tex. Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs.,
   210 S.W.3d 609 (Tex. 2006) (orig. proceeding) .............................................................. 3

Johnson v. Tenth Judicial Dist. Court of Appeals at Waco,
   280 S.W.3d 866 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) ......................................................................... 3

                                                               iv
Kissam v. Williamson,
   545 S.W.2d 265 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1976, orig. proceeding) ........................................ 4

State Bar of Tex. v. Gomez,
   891 S.W.2d 243 (Tex. 1994) (orig. proceeding) .............................................................. 5

State ex rel. Hill v. Court of Appeals for Fifth District,
   34 S.W.3d 924 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (orig. proceeding) ........................................... 4

Womack v. Berry,
 291 S.W.2d 677 (Tex. 1956) .............................................................................................. 5

Statutes
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 501.014 (West 2010).................................................................... 2

                                                             v
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:

       The State of Texas, Real Party in Interest, submits this response to Relator’s

petition for writ of mandamus.

                             STATEMENT OF THE CASE
       Relator judicially confessed and pled guilty to three sexual assault of child

felony offenses. Appendix I.1 On March 18, 2013, Relator was sentenced to 25

years’ incarceration in each cause to run concurrently; in cause F12-54454-U, the

trial court imposed a $2000 fine. Appendix I. The trial court incorporated into

each judgment orders to withdraw funds from Relator’s Inmate Trust Account.

Appendix I, II. Four years later, Relator filed with the trial court a Motion to Request

the Trial Court Rescind Three Orders to Withdrawal Funds from the Inmate’s Trust

Fund, and Order the Return of any Funds Withdrawn. Petition Exhibit D. Relator

submitted this instant petition for a writ of mandamus on February 21, 2018.

Subsequently, the trial court considered and denied Relator’s motion. Appendix III.

                                 ISSUES PRESENTED

       1. Whether Relator has established that he has no adequate remedy at law,

           entitling him to mandamus relief.

       2. Whether this Court should issue a writ of mandamus to compel

           Respondent to rule on Relator’s disposed motion.
1The State incorporates additional documents in its response to adequately support the record. See
In re Hill, No. 05-15-01478-CV, 2016 WL 55557, at *1 n.1 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 5, 2016, orig.
proceeding) (mem. op.).
                                    ARGUMENT
      Response to Issue One: Relator has an adequate remedy by
      appeal and therefore is not entitled to a writ of mandamus.
      Relator seeks a writ of mandamus to compel the trial court to rule on his

motion requesting that the trial court rescind its orders to withdraw funds from his

Inmate Trust Fund because they violate his due process rights. Relator fails to show

that he is entitled to mandamus relief.

      To establish a right to mandamus relief in a criminal case, the relator must

show that the trial court violated a ministerial duty and there is no adequate remedy at

law. In re State ex rel. Weeks, 391 S.W.3d 117, 122 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (orig.

proceeding). The withdrawal orders issued by a trial court allow the Institutional

Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to withdraw money from

Relator’s trust account for payment to the Dallas County district clerk for the

amounts specified by the court orders. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 501.014(e), (f)(5)

(West 2010). Orders expressly purported to be entered pursuant to section 501.014(e)

of the Government Code are civil in nature. Johnson v. Tenth Judicial Dist. Court of

Appeals at Waco, 280 S.W.3d 866, 872–75 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). The proper method

for seeking appellate review of an order of withdrawal of funds from an inmate trust

account is by appeal of the order. Harrell v. State, 286 S.W.3d 315, 321 (Tex. 2009).

Mandamus relief is proper only to correct a clear abuse of discretion when there is no

                                           2
adequate remedy by appeal. In re Prudential Ins. Co., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135–36 (Tex.

2004) (orig. proceeding).

       Relator fails to establish that he has no adequate remedy at law. Because

Relator challenges the trial court’s three orders to withdraw funds, direct appeal of

these orders is appropriate. See Harrell, 286 S.W.3d at 321 (stating “[A]ppellate review

should be by appeal, as in analogous civil post-judgment enforcement actions.”). Any

failure on Relator’s part to comply with the rules of civil procedure and properly file a

notice of appeal is not a sufficient excuse to justify issuance of mandamus. See In re

Tex. Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., 210 S.W.3d 609, 614 (Tex. 2006) (orig.

proceeding). Accordingly, Relator has failed to show that he is entitled to mandamus

relief and his petition should be denied.

       Response to Issue Two: Because Relator has received the relief
       he seeks via mandamus, this issue is moot.
       Relator argues that the trial court abused its discretion by not ruling on his

motion and requests this Court to compel Respondent to rule on his motion.

Relator’s petition is moot.

       An act is ministerial if the relator has a “clear right to the relief sought.” Id.;

State ex rel. Hill v. Court of Appeals for Fifth District, 34 S.W.3d 924, 927 (Tex. Crim. App.

2001) (orig. proceeding). The law must clearly spell out the duty to be performed

by the lower court with such certainty that nothing is left to the exercise of discretion

or judgment. See Hill, 34 S.W.3d at 928. When a motion is properly filed and pending

                                              3
before a trial court, the act of giving consideration to and ruling upon that motion is a

ministerial act. Barnes v. State, 832 S.W.2d 424, 426 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

1992, orig. proceeding) (citing Eli Lilly & Co. v. Marshall, 829 S.W.2d 157 (Tex. 1992)).

In such circumstances, a trial court must consider and rule upon the motion within

what, when all the surrounding circumstances are taken into account, constitutes a

reasonable time. See Kissam v. Williamson, 545 S.W.2d 265, 267 (Tex. App.—Tyler

1976, orig. proceeding) (determining mandamus would issue when a lower court had

not acted “within a reasonable time”). A refusal to rule within a reasonable time

would frustrate that process and, moreover, would constitute a denial of due course

of law. Baluch v. Miller, 774 S.W.2d 299, 301–02 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1989, orig.

proceeding). Therefore, mandamus is appropriate to compel a trial court to make a

ruling within a reasonable time. Womack v. Berry, 291 S.W.2d 677, 682 (Tex. 1956).

      However, a court should not issue mandamus if it would be useless or

unavailing. Dow Chem. Co. v. Garcia, 909 S.W.2d 503, 505 (Tex. 1995) (orig.

proceeding). A case may be dismissed as moot at any stage of the proceedings. In re

Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc., 166 S.W.3d 732, 737 (Tex. 2005) (orig. proceeding). A case

becomes moot if a controversy ceases to exist between the parties at any stage of the

legal proceedings. Id.; State Bar of Tex. v. Gomez, 891 S.W.2d 243, 245 (Tex. 1994) (orig.

proceeding) (stating that for controversy to be justiciable, there must be a real

controversy between the parties that will be actually resolved by the judicial relief

sought).

                                            4
      A justiciable controversy no longer exists with respect to Relator’s motion.

Respondent’s denial of Relator’s motion granted the relief he seeks on mandamus. See

In re Rowe, No. 05-15-00159-CV, 2015 WL 1063111, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas, Mar.

11, 2015, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.). Accordingly, Relator’s petition is moot and

should be denied.

                                      PRAYER
      The State of Texas, Real Party in Interest, submits that this Court should deny

Relator’s petition for a writ of mandamus.

                                                 Respectfully submitted,

  FAITH JOHNSON                                  /s/ Ricardo Vela, Jr.________
  Criminal District Attorney                     RICARDO VELA, JR.
  Dallas County, Texas                           Assistant District Attorney
                                                 State Bar Number 24072800
                                                 Frank
                                                    133 Crowley  Building
                                                        N. Riverfront  Blvd., LB-19
                                                 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19
                                                 Dallas, Texas 75207-4399
                                                 (214) 653-3625 (phone)
                                                 (214) 653-3643 (fax)
                                                 ricardo.vela@dallascounty.org

                                             5
                  CERTIFICATE OF WORD COMPLIANCE
      I, Ricardo Vela, Jr., Assistant District Attorney, hereby certify that the

foregoing response is 916 words in length according to Microsoft Word, which was

used to prepare the response.

                                                /s/ Ricardo Vela, Jr.________
                                                RICARDO VELA, JR.
                                                Assistant District Attorney

                          CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I, Ricardo Vela, Jr., Assistant District Attorney, hereby certify that a true copy

of the foregoing response has been served on Relator pro see via U.S. Mail to Juan

Suarez, TDCJ# 01846207, McConnell Unit, 3001 S. Emily Drive, Beeville, Texas

78102, on March 26, 2018.

                                                /s/ Ricardo Vela, Jr.________
                                                RICARDO VELA, JR.
                                                Assistant District Attorney

                                           6
APPENDIX

   7
Appendix I

    8
Appendix II

    15
Appendix III

     19