Court Opinion

ID: 2818076
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-17 06:54:08.457957+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:45:19.851901
License: Public Domain

Petition for Writ of Mandamus Denied and Memorandum Opinion filed July
16, 2015.

                                      In The

                    Fourteenth Court of Appeals

                                NO. 14-15-00579-CR

                     IN RE GERALD J. DURDEN, Relator

                         ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
                           WRIT OF MANDAMUS
                              248th District Court
                             Harris County, Texas
                         Trial Court Cause No. 905464

                         MEMORANDUM OPINION

      On July 9, 2015, relator Gerald J. Durden filed a petition for writ of
mandamus in this court. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221 (West 2004); see also
Tex. R. App. P. 52. In the petition, relator asks this court to compel the Honorable
Katherine Cabaniss, presiding judge of the 248th District Court of Harris County,
to rule on his motion for DNA testing and appointment of counsel.

      To be entitled to mandamus relief, a relator must show that he has no
adequate remedy at law to redress his alleged harm, and what he seeks is a
ministerial act, not involving a discretionary or judicial decision. State ex rel.
Young v. Sixth Judicial Dist. Court of Appeals at Texarkana, 236 S.W.3d 207, 210
(Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (orig. proceeding). Consideration of a motion that is
properly filed and before a court is a ministerial act. State ex rel. Curry v. Gray,
726 S.W.2d 125, 128 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987 (orig. proceeding) (op. on reh’g). A
relator must establish that the trial court (1) had a legal duty to rule on the motion;
(2) was asked to rule on the motion; and (3) failed or refused to rule on the motion
within a reasonable time.     In re Layton, 257 S.W.3d 794, 795 (Tex. App.—
Amarillo 2008, orig. proceeding); In re Molina, 94 S.W.3d 885, 886 (Tex. App.—
San Antonio 2003, orig. proceeding).

      Relator attached to his petition a copy of a signed green card, with an
illegible stamp, addressed to “Chris Daniel, Clerk.” Relator also attached a motion
requesting forensic DNA testing and the appointment of counsel with four exhibits.

      It is relator’s burden to provide a sufficient record to establish that he is
entitled to relief. See Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839 (Tex. 1992) (orig.
proceeding). Relator has not done so. Relator has not provided this court with a
file-stamped copy of his motion, establishing that his motion is pending in the
court. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.3(k), 52.7(a). Relator also has not shown that his
motion has been presented to the trial court. The trial court is not required to
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consider a motion that has not been called to its attention by proper means. See
Layton, 257 S.W.3d at 795.

      Relator has not established that he is entitled to mandamus relief.
Accordingly, we deny relator’s petition for a writ of mandamus.

                                 PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Boyce, McCally, and Donovan.

Do Not Publish — Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).

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