in Re: Jeffrey L. Ward ( 2015 )

NO. 12-15-00114-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS
IN RE: §
JEFFREY L. WARD, § ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
RELATOR §
MEMORANDUM OPINION
PER CURIAM
Relator Jeffrey L. Ward filed a petition for writ of mandamus complaining that a copy of
the reporter’s record from a July 8, 1993 evidentiary hearing is presently unavailable. He alleges
that the court reporter filed a copy of the record with the Cherokee County District Clerk, but the
copy cannot be located. He alleges that the reporter’s record is critical to an application for writ
of habeas corpus he intends to file challenging his final felony convictions. See generally Ward
v. State, 910 S.W.2d 1 (Tex. App.–Tyler 1995, pet. ref’d) (affirming Relator’s convictions for two
counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of possession of child pornography). We
dismiss the petition in part, and deny it in part.
JURISDICTION AND PREREQUISITES TO MANDAMUS
A court of appeals may issue a writ of mandamus against a judge of a district or county
court in the court of appeals district or a judge of a district court who is acting as a magistrate at a
court of inquiry under Chapter 52, Code of Criminal Procedure, in the court of appeals district.
TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 22.221(b) (West 2004). Additionally, a court of appeals may issue “all
other writs necessary to enforce the jurisdiction of the court.” Id. § 22.221(a) (West 2004).
To obtain mandamus relief in a criminal case, a relator must demonstrate that he does not
have an adequate remedy at law to redress an alleged harm and that the act he seeks to compel is
ministerial, that is, not involving a discretionary or judicial decision. See State ex rel. Young v.
Sixth Judicial Dist. Court of Appeals, 236 S.W.3d 207, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (orig.
proceeding). If the relator fails to satisfy either aspect of this two part test, mandamus relief should
be denied. Id.
AVAILABILITY OF MANDAMUS
Relator names the trial court judge in the underlying criminal proceeding, the present and
former district attorneys, and the district clerk of Cherokee County as respondents in this
proceeding. This court’s mandamus authority does not extend to the present district attorney or
her predecessor or to the district clerk. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 22.221(b). Moreover,
Relator does not allege facts that show any abuse of discretion by the trial court judge. Instead, he
speculates generally that, because the district clerk’s copy of the reporter’s record cannot be
located, certain of the respondents have obtained it and withheld it from disclosure. But he does
not allege facts that support his conclusion.1 Nor does he explain how his conclusion, even if true,
would extend our mandamus authority beyond the trial court judge. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN.
§ 22.221.
After reviewing Relator’s petition, we conclude that this court lacks jurisdiction to consider
Relator’s complaints about the present and former district attorneys and the district clerk. See TEX.
GOV’T CODE ANN. § 22.22(a). Furthermore, he has not shown any abuse of discretion by the trial
court judge. Accordingly, his petition for writ of mandamus is dismissed for want of jurisdiction
in part and denied in part.
Opinion delivered May 13, 2015.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
(DO NOT PUBLISH)
1
Relator points out that, in its opinion affirming his convictions, this court states that the reporter’s record
he seeks was never filed in the appeal. He also refers to later correspondence with a deputy clerk of this court by
which he learned that the reporter’s record was retained by this court. The footnote in the opinion explains why the
July 8, 1993 reporter’s record was never filed in the appeal. See Ward v. State, 910 S.W.2d 1, 2 n.1 (Tex. App.–Tyler
1995, pet. ref’d). On May 1, 2015, the reporter’s record Relator seeks was returned to the district clerk of Cherokee
County.
2
COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
JUDGMENT
MAY 13, 2015
NO. 12-15-00114-CR
JEFFREY L. WARD,
Relator
v.
HON. BASCOM M. BENTLEY, III,
Respondent
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
ON THIS DAY came to be heard the petition for writ of mandamus filed by
JEFFREY L. WARD; who is the relator in Cause No. 11965, pending on the docket of the 2nd
Judicial District Court of Cherokee County, Texas. Said petition for writ of mandamus having
been filed herein on May 1, 2015, and the same having been duly considered, because it is the
opinion of this Court that this Court does not have jurisdiction to consider Relator’s complaints
about the present and former district attorneys and the district clerk, those complaints should be
dismissed for want of jurisdiction. Further, because it is the opinion of this Court that Relator
failed to show an abuse of discretion by the trial court judge, Relator's petition as to the trial court
judge should be denied.
It is therefore CONSIDERED, ADJUDGED and ORDERED that the said petition
for writ of mandamus be, and the same is, hereby denied as to the trial court judge and dismissed
for want of jurisdiction as to all other respondents.
By per curiam opinion.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J. and Neeley, J.