Court Opinion

ID: 2887662
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-07 19:30:07.741121+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:43:20.258600
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-02-0105-CV

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                     AT AMARILLO

                                        PANEL A

                                     MARCH 8, 2002

                         ______________________________

                        IN RE ERASMO GONZALES, RELATOR

                         _______________________________

Before BOYD, C.J., and REAVIS and JOHNSON, JJ.

       By this original proceeding, relator Erasmo Gonzales, an inmate proceeding pro se

and in forma pauperis, seeks a writ of mandamus to compel the Judge of the 69th District

Court to set a hearing and rule on his “motion for leave to file for a writ of mandamus”

against the District Clerk of Dallam County. For the reasons expressed herein, the petition

for writ of mandamus must be denied.

       Initially, we note that a pro se litigant is held to the same standards as licensed

attorneys and must comply with applicable laws and rules of procedure. Holt v. F. F.

Enterprises, 990 S.W.2d 756, 759 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 1998, no pet.).            An original

proceeding filed in this Court must comply with the requirements of Rule 52 of the Texas

Rules of Appellate Procedure. Relator’s petition is lacking in most of the mandatory
requirements. Most importantly, it does not contain an appendix with a certified or sworn

copy of the document showing the matter complained of, i.e., his motion for leave to file

a writ of mandamus against the District Clerk of Dallam County.

          When a motion is properly filed and pending before a trial court, the act of

considering and ruling on that motion is a ministerial act. Eli Lilly and Co. v. Marshall, 829
S.W.2d 157 (Tex. 1992). However, the record before us consists only of relator’s deficient

“motion for leave to file for writ of mandamus.” Relator has not established that after he

filed his motion he requested a hearing and was refused one, nor that he took any action

to alert the trial court that his motion had not yet been considered. See Barnes v. State,

832 S.W.2d 424, 426 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding). Even a pro

se applicant for a writ of mandamus must show himself entitled to the extraordinary relief

he seeks. Id.

       Accordingly, relator’s petition for writ of mandamus is denied.

                                           Don H. Reavis
                                             Justice

Do not publish.

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