in Re: Roger Dale Hinds, Jr. ( 2008 )

In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
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No. 06-08-00022-CV
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IN RE: ROGER DALE HINDS, JR.
Original Mandamus Proceeding
Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Carter
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Roger Dale Hinds, Jr., an inmate within the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice–Institutional Division, has filed with this Court a petition for writ of mandamus. Hinds asks
us to direct the Honorable William R. Porter, presiding judge of the 276th Judicial District Court of
Marion County, Texas, to issue a "certificate of appealability" in Hinds' underlying criminal
conviction so that he may pursue a direct appeal with this Court. Hinds has provided copies of
several documents in support of his petition for the writ.
(1) Standard for Mandamus
Mandamus relief is appropriate only when the record establishes (1) a clear abuse of
discretion or the violation of a duty imposed by law (which is often described as a "ministerial" act)
and (2) the absence of a clear and adequate remedy at law. Cantu v. Longoria, 878 S.W.2d 131, 132
(Tex. 1994); Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839–40 (Tex. 1992). "With respect to resolution
of factual issues or matters committed to the trial court's discretion, the reviewing court may not
substitute its judgment for that of the trial court." In re State Farm Lloyds, Inc., 170 S.W.3d 629,
632 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005, orig. proceeding). "The relator must therefore establish that the trial
court could reasonably have reached only one decision." Id. This Court will therefore grant
mandamus relief in this case if Hinds can demonstrate that the act sought to be compelled is purely
"ministerial" and that he has no other adequate legal remedy. See State ex rel. Rosenthal, 98 S.W.3d
2
194, 198 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). A remedy is not inadequate merely because it may involve more
expense or delay than obtaining an extraordinary writ. Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 842.
(2) Hinds Is Not Entitled to Relief
The record brought forth by Hinds does not remotely suggest Hinds has previously asked the
trial court to issue a "certificate of appealability" in this case.1 Accordingly, we cannot say the record
before us affirmatively demonstrates the trial court failed to carry out a ministerial duty.
We deny Hinds' petition for writ of mandamus.
Jack Carter
Justice
Date Submitted: March 4, 2008
Date Decided: March 5, 2008
1
We are uncertain whether Hinds' use of the term "certificate of appealability" in his petition
for writ of mandamus refers to a "certification of right of appeal" under the Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure or a "certificate of appealability" under the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Compare TEX . R. APP . P. 25.2(a)(2) (trial court's certification of defendant's right of appeal) with
FED . R. APP . P. 22(b)(1). Even if Hinds is requesting action under the Texas rules of procedure, he
has not satisfied his burden on mandamus to bring forth a record showing the trial court failed to act
on a previous request for such instrument.
3