Court Opinion

ID: 4437883
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-13 00:12:51.085448+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:21:38.704960
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-19-00292-CR
                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                 TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
                                           TYLER, TEXAS

 IN RE:                                                   §
 DAMEON MOSLEY,                                           §       ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
 RELATOR                                                  §

                                       MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                           PER CURIAM
        The State of Texas charged Relator, Dameon Mosley, with capital murder. Relator filed a
pretrial application for writ of habeas corpus to challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty
as applied to those with an intellectual disability. Respondent denied the motion on August 5,
2019, and Relator filed an appeal from that denial, which is currently pending in this Court under
appellate cause number 12-19-00267-CR. 1 On August 22, Relator filed a petition for writ of
mandamus and stay of capital proceedings, seeking an order directing Respondent to stay Relator’s
criminal trial pending resolution of his appeal in cause number 12-19-00267-CR.
        That same day, the Clerk of this Court notified Relator that his petition for writ of
mandamus failed to comply with Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 52.2, 52.3(a)-(f), (h), and
(j), and 52.7. The notice further informed Relator that his petition would be referred to the Court
for dismissal unless he provided an amended petition and the record on or before September 3.
This deadline expired and Relator has not filed a mandamus record or an amended petition with
this Court to correct the defects identified in the August 22 notice.
        A party seeking mandamus relief must bring forward all that is necessary to establish his
claim for mandamus relief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52. This entails filing a petition that includes
contents such as the identity of parties and counsel, an index of authorities, a statement of the case,
a statement of jurisdiction, issues presented, a certification, and clear and concise arguments for

        1
          Respondent is the Honorable Christi J. Kennedy, Judge of the 114th District Court in Smith County, Texas.
The State of Texas is the Real Party in Interest.
the contentions made, with appropriate citations to authorities and to the appendix or record. TEX.
R. APP. P. 52.3(a)-(f), (h), (j). Additionally, Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 52.7 requires the
relator to file a record as part of his petition in an original proceeding. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7.
Specifically, a relator must file (1) a certified or sworn copy of every document that is material to
his claim for relief and that was filed in any underlying proceeding; and (2) “a properly
authenticated transcript of any relevant testimony from any underlying proceeding, including any
exhibits offered in evidence, or a statement that no testimony was adduced in connection with the
matter complained.” TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7(a).
         It is a relator’s burden to provide this Court with a sufficient record to establish the right to
mandamus relief. In re Daisy, No. 12-13-00266-CR, 2014 WL 5577068, at *2 (Tex. App.—Tyler
Aug. 29, 2014, orig. proceeding) (mem. op., not designated for publication). In this case, Relator
did not provide the record in accordance with Rule 52.7. Absent a record, this Court cannot
determine whether Relator is entitled to mandamus relief. See In re McCreary, No. 12-15-00067-
CR, 2015 WL 1395783 (Tex. App.—Tyler Mar. 25, 2015, orig. proceeding) (mem. op., not
designated for publication).
         Accordingly, because Relator’s petition fails to comply with the appellate rules, he presents
nothing for this Court to review. We, therefore, deny his petition for writ of mandamus.
Opinion delivered September 11, 2019.
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

                                        SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

                                        NO. 12-19-00292-CR

                                        DAMEON MOSLEY,
                                            Relator
                                              V.

                                 HON. CHRISTI J. KENNEDY,
                                        Respondent

                                       ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

              ON THIS DAY came to be heard the petition for writ of mandamus filed by
Dameon Mosley; who is the relator in appellate cause number 12-19-00292-CR and defendant in
trial court cause number 114-0510-17, pending on the docket of the 114th Judicial District Court
of Smith County, Texas. Said petition for writ of mandamus having been filed herein on August
22, 2019, 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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