in Re John M. Pope ( 2019 )

Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-19-00462-CR
IN RE John M. POPE
Original Mandamus Proceeding 1
PER CURIAM
Sitting: Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
Irene Rios, Justice
Delivered and Filed: July 17, 2019
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS DENIED
Relator filed a petition for writ of mandamus complaining the trial court has refused to rule
on his motion to dismiss his appointed trial counsel. Because relator did not provide this court
with a sufficient record, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus.
DISCUSSION
To establish a right to mandamus relief in a criminal case, the relator must show the trial
court violated a ministerial duty and there is no adequate remedy at law. In re State ex rel. Weeks,
391 S.W.3d 117, 122 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (orig. proceeding). A trial court has a ministerial
duty to rule on a properly-filed and timely-presented motion. See In re State ex rel. Young v. Sixth
Judicial Dist. Court of Appeals, 236 S.W.3d 207, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (orig. proceeding).
1
This proceeding arises out of Cause No. 2018CR12867, styled The State of Texas v. John Michael Pope, Jr., pending
in the 437th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas, the Honorable Lori I. Valenzuela presiding.
04-19-00462-CR
However, a relator has the burden of providing this court with a record sufficient to
establish his right to mandamus relief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7(a)(1) (requiring relator to file “a
certified or sworn copy of every document that is material to the relator’s claim for relief and that
was filed in any underlying proceeding”). In a case such as this one, a relator has the burden to
provide the court of appeals with a record showing the motion at issue was properly filed, the trial
court was made aware of the motion, and the motion has not been ruled on by the trial court for an
unreasonable period of time. See In re Mendoza, 131 S.W.3d 167, 167-68 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2004, orig. proceeding).
Here, relator did not provide this court with a copy of his motion to dismiss counsel, a copy
of the trial court’s docket, or any proof indicating the trial court is aware of the motion to dismiss
counsel. Also, relator did not provide a record establishing his motion to dismiss counsel, which
he contends he filed on January 31, 2019, has awaited disposition for an unreasonable time. Id.
Because relator did not provide this court with a sufficient record, relator has not shown himself
entitled to mandamus relief. Accordingly, the petition for writ of mandamus is denied.
PER CURIAM
Do not publish
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