Court Opinion

ID: 9701261
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 22:13:21.730212+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:21.851703
License: Public Domain

REX D. DAVIS, Chief Justice,
concurring.
Respondent has failed or refused to “issue the writ” requested by William F. Piper in the underlying proceeding.1 The central issue in this mandamus proceeding is whether Piper has a right to a hearing in the trial court on the merits of his request for a bail reduction or whether he must file his request with another district judge. Stated in mandamus terms, the question is whether he has an “adequate remedy at law.”
To obtain mandamus relief, settled law requires the relator to establish: “(1) he has no other adequate legal remedy; and (2) under the relevant facts and law, the act sought to be compelled is purely ministerial.” State ex rel. Hill v. Court of Appeals, 34 S.W.3d 924, 927 (Tex.Crim.App.2001).
“In a case where a judge refuses to issue the requested writ of habeas corpus or denies an applicant the requested hearing on the merits of his claim, an applicant’s remedies are limited. Some remedies available to an applicant in that situation are to present the application to another district judge having jurisdiction, or under proper circumstances, to pursue a writ of mandamus.” Ex parte Hargett, 819 S.W.2d 866, 868 (Tex.Crim.App.1991) (footnote omitted). “In some cases, a remedy at law may technically exist; however, it may nevertheless be so uncertain, tedious, burdensome, slow, inconvenient, inappropriate or ineffective as to be deemed inadequate.” State ex rel. Holmes v. Court of Appeals, 885 S.W.2d 389, 394 (Tex.Crim.App.1994) (quoting Smith v. Flack, 728 S.W.2d 784, 792 (Tex.Crim.App.1987)); accord In re Davis, 990 S.W.2d 455, 457 (Tex.App.-Waco 1999, orig. proceeding).
Piper has not provided any information regarding when his case is set for trial. Cf. Davis, 990 S.W.2d at 457 (second habe-as inadequate because of “the short period of time before the date for the second trial as scheduled by the Respondent”). He has shown no other circumstance that allows him the exception accorded in Davis. Therefore, with considerable regret, I concur in the denial of the requested relief.

. By "issuance of the writ,” the court issues an order "directed to any one having a person in his custody, or under his restraint, commanding him to produce such person, at a time and place named in the writ, and show why he is held in custody or under restraint.” Tex.Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.01 (Vernon 1977). In plain terminology, the court merely directs the sheriff to bring the applicant to court for a hearing on his habeas application.