Court Opinion

ID: 4052675
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 02:05:50.850763+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:48:58.469401
License: Public Domain

Petition for Writ of Mandamus Denied, in Part, Dismissed, in Part, and
Memorandum Opinion filed October 13, 2015.

                                     In The

                    Fourteenth Court of Appeals

                               NO. 14-15-00811-CV

               IN RE EDWARD H. SHACKELFORD, Relator

                        ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
                          WRIT OF MANDAMUS
                             310th District Court
                            Harris County, Texas
                      Trial Court Cause No. 2014-49719

                        MEMORANDUM OPINION

      On September 29, 2015, relator Edward H. Shackelford 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 named the Honorable Lisa A.
Millard, presiding judge of the 310th District Court of Harris County, and the
Honorable Conrad L. Moren, associate judge of the 310th District Court, as
respondents. Relator asks this court compel respondents to vacate the June 16,
2015 final divorce decree and order respondents to hold an evidentiary hearing on
the enforceability of the mediated settlement agreement.

      Section 22.221 of the Texas Government Code governs this court’s
mandamus jurisdiction. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 22.221. Section 22.221
expressly limits mandamus jurisdiction of the courts of appeals to (1) writs against
a district or county judge in the court of appeals’ district; and (2) all writs
necessary to enforce the court of appeals’ jurisdiction. See id. A court of appeals’
jurisdiction does not include writs against associate judges.        See Graham v.
Graham, 414 S.W.3d 800, 802 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, no pet.)
(holding courts of appeals lack mandamus jurisdiction over an associate judge.); In
re Tex. Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., 348 S.W.3d 492, 495 (Tex. App.—
Fort Worth 2011, orig. proceeding) (dismissing petition for writ of mandamus
against associate judge for lack of jurisdiction). Therefore, this court does not have
jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus against Judge Moren.

      As to Judge Millard, relator must demonstrate (1) the trial court clearly
abused its discretion; and (2) the relator has no adequate remedy by appeal. In re
Reece, 341 S.W.3d 360, 364 (Tex. 2011) (orig. proceeding). Judge Millard signed
a final divorce decree in this case. In light of the final decree, we conclude that
relator has an adequate remedy by appeal. Therefore, relator has not shown that he
is entitled to a writ of mandamus against Judge Millard.

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      Accordingly, we dismiss relator’s petition for writ of mandamus against
Judge Moren for lack of jurisdiction. We deny the remainder of relator’s petition
against Judge Millard for failure to show entitlement to mandamus relief.

                                     PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Chief Justice Frost and Justices Christopher and Donovan.

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