Court Opinion

ID: 9617975
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:04:52.156817+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:04:21.599680
License: Public Domain

BILL VANCE, Justice,
concurring.
I disagree with the majority opinion on two issues, neither of which would change the result.
First, I do not believe that section 13.003 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code applies to cases, like this, where no affidavit of inability to pay costs in the trial court was filed under Rule 145 of the Rules of Civil Procedure. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 13.003 (Vernon Supp.2002). I understand that from a literal reading of the section, out of context, it appears to apply. However, in 1993, the Legislature added it to the chapter entitled “Affidavit of Inability to Pay Costs” dealing with the filing of frivolous suits in the trial court and in 1995 amended it. In each instance, the caption contains the phrase “appeals in which an affidavit of inability to pay costs has been filed.”1 Section 13.003 should be read in context with sections 13.001, 13.002, and 13.004 to apply only when they apply.
Second, I would apply an abuse-of-discretion standard in reviewing the trial court’s decision on an affidavit filed under Appellate Rule 20.1, rather than a legal and factual sufficiency review. Tex.R.App. P. 20.1.
Because I do not believe that the trial court abused its discretion in denying a free record in this instance, I concur in affirming the court’s order.

. S.B. 1062 of the 73rd Legislature (Act of May 26, 1993, 73rd Leg., R.S., ch. 861, 1993 Tex. Gen Laws. 3374). H.B. 1193 of the 75th Legislature (Act of May 15, 1997, 75th Leg. R.S., ch. 467, 1997 Tex. Gen. Laws. 1789).