Court Opinion

ID: 3077055
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 01:23:43.130187+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:42:01.167039
License: Public Domain

IN THE
                               TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

                                       No. 10-13-00169-CR

                            IN RE NAKIA SHERNELL COOK

                                       Original Proceeding

                                MEMORANDUM OPINION

        In this original proceeding, Relator Nakia Shernell Cook seeks mandamus relief

against the respondent trial judge1 on the allegation that he has failed to timely rule, or

has refused to rule, on Cook’s motions for a bench warrant and for a speedy trial in the

underlying criminal case.2 Cook, who is a state prison inmate, alleges that he filed these

1
 Cook identifies the Respondent as “County Court at Law #2,” but the Respondent is the judge of that
court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.2.

2 Cook’s application (petition) for writ of mandamus has several procedural deficiencies. It does not
include the certification required by Rule of Appellate Procedure 52.3(j). See id. 52.3(j). The appendix,
which also apparently serves as Cook’s record, is not certified or sworn to, as required by Rules 52.3(k)
and 52.7(a)(1). See id. 52.3(k), 52.7(a)(1). The petition lacks proof of service on the Respondent; it
improperly indicates service on the Clerk of this Court, rather than on the Respondent trial court judge.
See id. 9.5, 52.2. And, it lacks proof of service on the McLennan County District Attorney, a Real-Party-in-
Interest. See id. 52.2. A copy of all documents presented to the Court must be served on all parties to the
motions in his misdemeanor theft case pending in the County Court at Law No. 2 in

McLennan County. It appears that McLennan County has placed a “hold” on Cook

with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice so that when he is released from prison,

he will be released into the custody of the McLennan County Sheriff’s Department for

prosecution of the misdemeanor case. Cook alleges that this hold disqualifies him from

participating in prison educational programs, which is why he wants his misdemeanor

case resolved promptly.

        “A court with mandamus authority ‘will grant mandamus relief if relator can

demonstrate that the act sought to be compelled is purely ‘ministerial’ and that relator

has no other adequate legal remedy.’” In re Piper, 105 S.W.3d 107, 109 (Tex. App.—

Waco 2003, orig. proceeding) (quoting State ex rel. Rosenthal v. Poe, 98 S.W.3d 194, 197-99

(Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (orig. proceeding)). Consideration of a motion properly filed

and before the court is ministerial. State ex rel. Hill v. Ct. of Apps. for the 5th Dist., 34
S.W.3d 924, 927 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (orig. proceeding).

               Mandamus may issue to compel a trial court to rule on a motion
        which has been pending before the court for a reasonable period of time.
        See In re Hearn, 137 S.W.3d 681, 685 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, orig.
        proceeding); In re Keeter, 134 S.W.3d 250, 252-53 (Tex. App.—Waco 2003,
        orig. proceeding); In re Chavez, 62 S.W.3d 225, 228 (Tex. App.—Amarillo
        2001, orig. proceeding); Barnes v. State, 832 S.W.2d 424, 426 (Tex. App.—
        Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding); see also In re Shredder Co., 225
S.W.3d 676, 679 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2006, orig. proceeding). To obtain
        mandamus relief for such refusal, a relator must establish: (1) the motion
        was properly filed and has been pending for a reasonable time; (2) the
        relator requested a ruling on the motion; and (3) the trial court refused to
        rule. See Hearn, 137 S.W.3d at 685; Keeter, 134 S.W.3d at 252; Chavez, 62

proceeding and must contain proof of service. Id. 9.5. Because of our disposition and to expedite it, we
will implement Rule 2 and suspend these rules. Id. 2.

In re Cook                                                                                       Page 2
S.W.3d at 228; Barnes, 832 S.W.2d at 426; see also Shredder Co., 225 S.W.3d at
       679. The mere filing of a motion with a trial court clerk does not equate to
       a request that the trial court rule on the motion. See Hearn, 137 S.W.3d at
       685; Chavez, 62 S.W.3d at 228; Barnes, 832 S.W.2d at 426; cf. Shredder Co.,
225 S.W.3d at 680 (“Relator has made repeated requests for a ruling on its
       motion.”).

In re Sarkissian, 243 S.W.3d 860, 861 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, orig. proceeding).

       A trial judge has a reasonable time to perform the ministerial duty of considering

and ruling on a motion properly filed and before the judge. Chavez, 62 S.W.3d at 228.

But that duty generally does not arise until the movant has brought the motion to the

trial judge’s attention, and mandamus will not lie unless the movant makes such a

showing and the trial judge then fails or refuses to rule within a reasonable time. See id.

Also, the mere filing of a pleading or letter with the clerk does not impute knowledge to

the trial judge. See In re Flores, No. 04-03-00449-CV, 2003 WL 21480964 (Tex. App.—San

Antonio June 25, 2003, orig. proceeding).

       Cook bears the burden of providing this Court with a sufficient record to

establish his right to mandamus relief. See In re Mullins, 10-09-00143-CV, 2009 WL
2959716, at *1, n.1 (Tex. App.—Waco Sept. 16, 2009, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.); In re

Blakeney, 254 S.W.3d 659, 661 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2008, orig. proceeding). There is

no record showing that Cook has brought the matter to the attention of the trial judge

and that the trial judge has then failed or refused to rule within a reasonable time.

       Because Cook has not shown that he is entitled to relief, we deny the petition for

writ of mandamus.

In re Cook                                                                              Page 3
                                           REX D. DAVIS
                                           Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray,
       Justice Davis, and
       Justice Scoggins
Petition denied
Opinion delivered and filed June 6, 2013
Do not publish
[OT06]

In re Cook                                                Page 4