Court Opinion

ID: 3107816
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 06:16:09.88335+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:46:59.538225
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-11-00119-CV

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                       FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                       AT AMARILLO

                                          PANEL E

                                       JUNE 28, 2011

                         IN RE R WAYNE JOHNSON, RELATOR

Before CAMPBELL and HANCOCK, JJ., and BOYD, S.J.1

                                MEMORANDUM OPINION

       Relator R. Wayne Johnson, a state prison inmate proceeding pro se, seeks a writ

of mandamus against respondent, the Honorable Ana Estevez, Judge of the 251st

District Court of Potter County, Texas, on the ground that respondent refused to issue

arrest warrants or summonses in response to the complaint filed in her court by relator

alleging assault by certain prison officials. We will deny relator’s petition.

       Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy available only in limited circumstances

involving manifest and urgent necessity and not for grievances that may be addressed

by other remedies. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992). A relator must

demonstrate a clear abuse of discretion or the violation of a duty imposed by law and

that he has no other adequate remedy at law. See Republican Party of Texas v. Dietz,

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       John T. Boyd, Chief Justice (Ret.), Seventh Court of Appeals, sitting by
assignment.
940 S.W.2d 86, 88 (Tex. 1997). Relator does not challenge a ruling of the trial court.

Rather he alleges failure of that court to perform a ministerial duty. Here, then, to obtain

relief by mandamus, relator must show: (1) a legal duty by the trial court to act; (2) a

demand for performance; and (3) a refusal to act. See Stoner v. Massey, 586 S.W.2d
843, 846 (Tex. 1979); In re Chavez, 62 S.W.3d 225, 228 (Tex.App.--Amarillo 2001, orig.

proceeding).

       We begin by noting that we could not issue the relief relator requests on the

record he submits. To support relief, a mandamus record must include every document

that is material to the claim for relief and that was filed in the underlying proceeding.

Tex. R. App. P. 52.7; Dallas Morning News v. Fifth Court of Appeals, 842 S.W.2d 655,

658 (Tex. 1992). This means relator must provide an adequate record to substantiate

the allegations contained in the petition for mandamus. Id.; Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833,

837 (Tex. 1992). Absent a sufficient record, mandamus will not issue. Id.

       With his petition, relator has included a copy of some documents he states he

filed with the 251st District Court. But appellant’s mandamus petition is based on a

document entitled “criminal complaint” he states he sent to Judge Estevez, alleging

assault by several prison officials and requesting the judge issue arrest warrants or

summonses. He does not, however, include the document with his petition. Tex. R.

App. P. 52.3(k)(1)(a) (requiring a certified or sworn copy of documents showing the

matter complained of). We could not evaluate relator’s mandamus petition without the

critical document he says he filed with the respondent.

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       Beyond these deficiencies, and assuming Judge Estevez has seen his criminal

complaint, relator’s petition on its face does not support his contention Judge Estevez

failed to perform a ministerial duty. Relator cites articles 15.03, 15.04, and 15.05 of the

Code of Criminal Procedure. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. arts. 15.03, 15.04, 15.05

(West 2010).        None of those provisions make the issuance of an arrest warrant a

ministerial duty.

       Article 15.03 speaks only to situations when a warrant or summons may be

issued and the contents of a summons. As we have held before, it does not make the

issuance of either a warrant or a summons a ministerial duty. In re Johnson, No. 07-04-

0568-CV, 2004 Tex.App. LEXIS 11433 (Tex.App.—Amarillo Dec. 20, 2004, orig.

proceeding) (mem. op.). It is fundamental, of course, that arrest warrants under article

15.03 are properly issued only on a demonstration of probable cause to believe an

offense has been committed, as determined by a neutral and detached magistrate.

U.S. Const. amend. IV (requiring probable cause for issuance of warrant); see State v.

Martin, 833 S.W.2d 129, 132 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) (describing requirements for

issuance of warrant).

       Article 15.04 simply defines the word “complaint” and article 15.05 sets forth the

requisites of a complaint. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. arts. 15.04; 15.05 (West 2010).

Neither supports relator’s contention that issuing arrest warrants or summonses is a

ministerial duty.

       Relator further complains that, alternatively, Judge Estevez could have initiated a

court of inquiry pursuant to article 52.01 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Tex. Code
                                            3
Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 52.01 (West 2009). But again relator points to nothing suggesting

that a failure to do so on request violates a ministerial duty.

       Accordingly, relator’s petition for writ of mandamus is denied.

                                                          Per Curiam

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