Gloria Baze and Alahna Baze, a Minor v. Stacy Chandler, as Next Friend Katlyn Chandler

Opinion

IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-11-00034-CV

GLORIA BAZE AND ALAHNA BAZE, A MINOR, Appellants v.

STACY CHANDLER, AS NEXT FRIEND KATLYN CHANDLER, Appellee

From the 413th District Court Johnson County, Texas Trial Court No. C201000122

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Gloria Baze, representing herself, filed a notice of appeal which appears to be on

behalf of herself and Alahna Baze, allegedly a minor. In letters dated February 17, 2011,

and March 24, 2011 the Clerk of this Court informed Gloria and Alahna, respectively,

that it appeared from the notice of appeal that Gloria is not an attorney; therefore, she

was prohibited from representing Alahna on appeal. See TEX. GOV'T. CODE ANN. §

81.102 (West 2005); Gomez v. Collins, 993 F.2d 96, 98 (5th Cir. 1993) (“[L]ay

representation on a direct appeal is clearly impermissible. United States v. Bertolini, 576 F.2d 1133, 1133 (5th Cir. 1978)”); Steele v. McDonald, 202 S.W.3d 926, 928 (Tex. App.—

Waco 2006, order). See Elwell v. Mayfield, No. 10-04-00322-CV, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS

6356, at *8-11 (Tex. App.—Waco Aug. 10, 2005, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (a non-attorney

cannot sign pleadings on behalf of a pro-se litigant); Magaha v. Holmes, 886 S.W.2d 447,

448 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, no pet.) (holding that plaintiff's mother could

not act as his attorney because she was not licensed to practice law); see also Spigener v.

Lee, No. 10-08-00280-CV (Tex. App.—Waco Dec. 3, 2008, order) (not designated for

publication) (non-attorney cannot sign pleadings on behalf of a pro-se litigant).

In those same letters, the Clerk informed Gloria and Alahna that the Court

questioned whether Alahna may represent herself on appeal. See Greathouse v. Ft. Worth

& D.C.R. Co., 65 S.W.2d 762, 765 (Tex. Comm'n App. 1933). The Clerk then notified

Gloria and Alahna that the Court would dismiss the appeal as to Alahna unless, within

21 days of the date of the letter, a response was filed showing grounds for continuing

the appeal. TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3; 44.3. Gloria and Alahna were further warned that the

failure to file a response as requested would result in the dismissal of the appeal as to

Alahna without further notification for failure to comply with the letter order or a

notice from the Clerk. TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(c).

More than 21 days have passed and we have not received a response from

Alahna. Gloria responded but her response does not provide grounds for continuing

the appeal as to Alahna.

Gloria has now filed a motion to dismiss the appeal as to her. See TEX. R. APP. P.

42.1.

Baze v. Chandler Page 2 Accordingly, the entire appeal is dismissed. See Id. 42.1, 42.3(c).

Absent a specific exemption, the Clerk of the Court must collect filing fees at the

time a document is presented for filing. TEX. R. APP. P. 12.1(b); Appendix to TEX. R. APP.

P., Order Regarding Fees (Amended Aug. 28, 2007, eff. Sept. 1, 2007). See also TEX. R.

APP. P. 5; 10TH TEX. APP. (WACO) LOC. R. 5; TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 51.207(b); §

51.941(a) (West 2005); and § 51.208 (West Supp. 2010). Under these circumstances, we

suspend the rule and order the Clerk to write off all unpaid filing fees in this case. TEX.

R. APP. P. 2. The write-off of the fees from the accounts receivable of the Court in no

way eliminates or reduces the fees owed.

TOM GRAY Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Scoggins Appeal dismissed Opinion delivered and filed July 20, 2011 [CV06]

Baze v. Chandler Page 3