in Re James G. Miller, Relator ( 2012 )

NO. 07-12-00128-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL A
MAY 3, 2012
IN RE JAMES G. MILLER, RELATOR
Before CAMPBELL and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Relator, James G. Miller, has filed an “Original Application for Writ of Mandamus”
requesting this Court to issue a writ of mandamus ordering respondent, the Honorable
Jim Bob Darnell, to consider and rule on Miller’s pending “Motion to Vacate Sentence
and Judgment as Void.@ We deny Miller’s request.
Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 52.31 identifies the requirements for a petition
for writ of mandamus filed in this Court. Miller has failed to comply with these
requirements. Rule 52.3 requires the person filing a petition must certify that he has
reviewed the petition and concluded that every factual statement in the petition is
supported by competent evidence included in the appendix or record. See Rule 52.3(j).
Miller failed to make this certification. Rule 52.3(a) requires that a petition must include
a complete list of all parties and the names and addresses of all counsel. Miller does
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Further citation of Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure will be by reference to
ARule __.@
not list the parties against whom he seeks mandamus relief apart from their
identification in the argument portion of his petition. Rule 52.3(b) requires that the
petition include a table of contents with references to the pages of the petition and an
indication of the subject matter of each issue or point raised in the petition. Miller=s
petition includes no table of contents. Rule 52.3(c) requires that a petition include an
index of authorities in which all authorities cited in the petition are arranged
alphabetically and the page(s) upon which the authorities are cited is indicated. Miller=s
petition includes no index of authorities. Rule 52.3(d) requires a statement of the case.
Miller=s petition does not contain a statement of the case and does not identify the
nature of the underlying proceeding. Rule 52.3(e) requires that the petition must state
the basis of the court=s jurisdiction. Miller=s petition does not include a statement of the
basis of this Court=s jurisdiction over this petition, but rather just cites Texas
Government Code section 22.221’s grant of general mandamus authority. Rule 52.3(f)
requires the petition to include a concise statement of all issues or points presented for
relief. Miller=s petition includes no such statement. Each of these items are required in
a petition for writ of mandamus and, as Miller failed to include them in his petition, we
will not grant the relief that he requests.
However, even if Miller had complied with the requirements of Rule 52.3, his
petition fails to establish his entitlement to mandamus relief. A trial court has a
ministerial duty to consider and rule on motions properly filed and pending before the
court and mandamus may issue to compel the judge to act. Safety-Kleen Corp. v.
Garcia, 945 S.W.2d 268, 269 (Tex.App.BSan Antonio 1997, orig. proceeding) (citing
O=Donniley v. Golden, 860 S.W.2d 267, 269-70 (Tex.App.BTyler 1993, orig.
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proceeding)). However, the trial court is afforded a reasonable time in which to perform
this ministerial duty. Barnes v. State, 832 S.W.2d 424, 426 (Tex.App.BHouston [1st
Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding). To establish entitlement to mandamus relief for a trial
court=s failure to consider and rule on a motion, the relator must establish that the trial
court had a legal duty to perform a non-discretionary act, was asked to perform the act,
and failed or refused to do so within a reasonable time. In re Chavez, 62 S.W.3d 225,
228 (Tex.App.BAmarillo 2001, orig. proceeding). A court is not required to consider a
motion not called to its attention. Metzger v. Sebek, 892 S.W.2d 20, 49
(Tex.App.BHouston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ denied).
Miller fails to establish that his motion was brought to the attention of the trial
court. According to Miller=s petition, he filed his motion with the Lubbock County District
Clerk on November 9, 2011, a contention which is confirmed by a file stamped copy of
the motion included in Miller’s appendix. Subsequently, Miller indicates that he sent
notices of inquiry to the district clerk on January 3, 2012, and February 22, 2012.
However, according to the copies of these notices included in Miller’s appendix, it is
clear that these notices do no more than inquire of the district clerk as to the status of
his “Motion to Vacate Sentence and Judgment as Void.@ As such, these notices do not
establish that Miller’s motion was ever brought to the attention of the trial court. Filing a
motion with the district clerk does not establish that the motion was brought to the
attention of the trial court because the clerk's knowledge of the motion is not imputed to
the trial court. In re Chavez, 62 S.W.3d at 228. Because Miller=s petition fails to
demonstrate that his motion has been actually brought to the trial court=s attention or
presented for a ruling, we must deny Miller=s petition for writ of mandamus. See In re
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Posey, No. 07-03-0518-CV, 2004 Tex.App. LEXIS 695, at *2-*3 (Tex.App.BAmarillo
2004, orig. proceeding).
Additionally, while a trial court has a ministerial duty to consider and rule on
motions properly filed and pending before the court, the court is afforded a reasonable
time in which to perform its ministerial duty. Safety-Kleen Corp., 945 S.W.2d at 269.
Whether a reasonable time has lapsed depends on the facts of each case. Barnes, 832
S.W.2d at 426. Factors relevant in determining whether a reasonable time has lapsed
include whether the trial court had actual knowledge of the motion, its overt refusal to
act, the state of its docket, and other judicial and administrative duties which must be
addressed first. In re Villarreal, 96 S.W.3d 708, 711 (Tex.App.BAmarillo 2003, orig.
proceeding). As addressed above, nothing in the record before us establishes that
Miller=s motions were ever brought to the attention of the trial court. Further, no overt
refusal to act is shown, no evidence of the state of the trial court=s docket is provided,
and there is no evidence of whether the trial court must afford other judicial or
administrative duties priority. It is the burden of the party requesting relief to provide a
record sufficient to establish his entitlement to mandamus relief. See Walker v. Packer,
827 S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding); In re Bates, 65 S.W.3d 133, 135
(Tex.App.BAmarillo 2001, orig. proceeding).
For the foregoing reasons, Miller=s petition for writ of mandamus is denied.
Mackey K. Hancock
Justice
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