in Re James Miller, Relator

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: May 16, 2007
• Docket: 07-07-00144-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

NO. 07-07-0144-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL A

MAY 16, 2007

______________________________

IN RE JAMES MILLER

_______________________________

Before CAMPBELL, HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

Relator James Miller brings this original proceeding seeking a writ of mandamus ⁽¹⁾ against the Honorable Jim Bob Darnell, judge of the 140^th District Court and the Lubbock County district clerk. Relator's petition arises from a motion he filed in the 140^th District Court seeking access to the trial record from a trial at which he was acquitted of manufacturing and possessing methamphetamine. Relator wants the record to use in preparing a petition seeking habeas corpus relief from his subsequent convictions for possession of an immediate precursor chemical and anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, arising from the same events. For the reasons set out below, we deny the petition.

Relator was charged in a May 2003 indictment containing the four counts described. Trial of the first two counts in December 2003 resulted in his acquittal. When the State sought to try relator on the remaining two counts he asserted a plea of jeopardy. The trial court denied the plea and the remaining counts were tried in April 2004 resulting in relator's conviction. We affirmed that conviction on direct appeal. Miller v. State, No. 07-04-0332-CR, 2006 WL 798065 (Tex.App.-Amarillo March 29, 2006, pet. ref'd). We rejected relator's double jeopardy claim on the basis the first and second trials did not involve the same offense. Id. at 8. We also overruled his argument that collateral estoppel barred use of evidence which he alleged had also been admitted at the first trial. Id. at 11.

Arguing he needs the record from the December 2003 trial to prepare a petition for habeas corpus, relator filed a motion in the trial court requesting an order directing the district clerk to "provide or loan" a copy of the record from that trial. The motion was submitted without a cause number and recited that the proposed petition for habeas corpus relief will assert claims of double jeopardy, suppression of evidence, collateral estoppel and ineffective assistance of counsel. In the motion relator also requested a hearing. The trial court denied relator's request for a hearing by written order, which was filed under the cause number of relator's second trial. Relator's present petition seeks to have this court direct Judge Darnell to hold a hearing on his motion and direct the trial court clerk to provide or loan a copy of the 2003 record.

Our power of mandamus is defined and limited by Section 22.221 of the Government Code. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 22.221 (Vernon 2004). It extends to a district or county court judge in our court of appeals district or as necessary to enforce our jurisdiction. We have no power to issue a writ of mandamus to a district clerk unless necessary to enforce our jurisdiction. Id. A convicted person's access to a trial record for use in preparing a petition for habeas corpus does not affect our jurisdiction. In re Coronado, 980 S.W.2d 691, 692 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1998) (orig. proceeding).

Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy that will issue to correct a clear abuse of discretion when there is no other adequate remedy by law. See In re D. Wilson Const. Co., 196 S.W.3d 774, 780 (Tex. 2006); Healey v. McMeans, 884 S.W.2d 772, 780 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994). It is the relator's burden to show entitlement to the relief being requested. See Johnson v. Fourth Court of Appeals, 700 S.W.2d 916, 917 (Tex. 1985) (orig. proceeding). To establish entitlement to the issuance of a writ of mandamus compelling a trial court to consider and rule on a pending motion, the relator bears the burden to establish that (1) the trial court had a legal duty to perform, (2) relator made a demand for performance of this duty, and (3) the trial court refused to act. Stoner v. Massey, 586 S.W.2d 843, 846 (Tex. 1979). Relator has failed to establish these elements.

Contending mandamus may issue to enforce the trial court's legal duty to act on motions in a reasonable time, relator cites In re Christensen, 39 S.W.3d 250 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 2000, orig. proceeding), Barnes v. State, 832 S.W.2d 424 (Tex.App.-Houston [1^st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding), and Safety-Kleen Corp. v. Garcia, 945 S.W.2d 268 (Tex.App.-Houston [1^st Dist.] 1992, orig. proceeding). Unlike those cases, here relator's petition and attached documents show the trial court has ruled on his request for a hearing. Because the trial court has not refused to act, the authority on which relator relies does not show his entitlement to the relief requested.

Relator also challenges the merits of Judge Darnell's ruling, but he offers no authority establishing the trial court had a legal duty to hold a hearing on his motion. Relator cites Eubanks v. Mullin, 909 S.W.2d 574 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1995, orig. proceeding), in which the court enunciated standards under which an indigent defendant might have a right of access to the record of a prior proceeding if necessary to present a meritorious claim through habeas corpus. 909 S.W.2d at 576 (enunciating standard but finding relator failed to meet it). See also Coronado, 980 S.W.2d at 693 (reciting same standard but holding court had no mandamus authority over district clerk). The opinions in Eubanks and Coronado do not address the source of a trial court's authority to consider the merits of the requests presented. ⁽²⁾ We find no express authority in the Code of Criminal Procedure for a party to initiate a proceeding in the trial court by filing a motion like that relator filed in the 140^th District Court. ⁽³⁾ Cf. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 64.01 (Vernon 2007) (authorizing request for post-conviction DNA testing to be made by motion). ⁽⁴⁾ Nor are we able to find any instance in which a court of appeals has used its mandamus authority to enforce the right of access to records that Eubanks and Coronado posit. We find relator in this case has not shown he has no other adequate remedy by law. See In re D. Wilson Const. Co., 196 S.W.3d at 780. Article 11.07 of the Code of Criminal Procedure governing habeas corpus relief suggests relator has an adequate remedy by affording him an opportunity to show the need for the records of his 2003 trial. Section 3 of that statute directs a trial court to determine if there are controverted, previously unresolved material facts and authorizes resolution of those issues by affidavits, depositions, interrogatories, hearings, and the court's personal recollection. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.07 § 3(c), (d) (Vernon 2005). Use of a habeas corpus hearing to develop facts not shown in the existing record is illustrated in Ex parte Preston, 833 S.W.2d 515, 519 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) (op. on rehearing). The petitioner there also sought habeas corpus relief alleging multiple trials on a single indictment violated protections against double jeopardy. Id. at 516. The facts surrounding the disposition of untried counts were developed in a hearing on relator's application for a writ of habeas corpus. Id. at 519.

Finding relator here has failed to establish his entitlement to the mandamus relief requested, we deny the petition.

James T. Campbell

Justice

1. Relator has also filed a motion for leave to file his petition for writ of mandamus. Because leave to file is no longer required we do not address that motion. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.1.

2. See also Escobar v. State, 880 S.W.2d 782 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1993), dealing with a motion filed directly with the court of appeals, seeking trial records for preparation of a habeas corpus application. Rejecting the movant's request, the court found neither a constitutional requirement that the records be provided nor a statutory authority for the court to grant his request.

3. Federal law provides a procedure for a habeas corpus petitioner to have a judge certify the suit is not frivolous and a free record is needed to decide an issue presented. See 28 U.S.C. § 753(f); United States v. MacCollom, 426 U.S. 317, 327-328, 96 S.Ct. 2086, 48 L.Ed.2d 666 (1976). Texas has no statute like 28 U.S.C. section 753(f). Eubanks, 909 S.W.2d at 576.

4. More recently, the Corpus Christi court of appeals considered its jurisdiction to review a mandamus petition seeking a record for the purpose of pursuing post-conviction habeas relief. In re Trevino, 79 S.W.3d 795 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2002, orig. proceeding). The court found it had no jurisdiction to consider the petition and dismissed it. Id. at 796. The Tyler court of appeals followed the same course in In re Donnell, No. 12-06-0092-CV, 2006 WL 859658 (Tex.App.-Tyler March 31, 2006, orig. proceeding). This court has not as yet concluded it lacks jurisdiction to consider mandamus petitions seeking such relief. See In re Cox, No. 07-0600271-CV, 2006 WL 2010901 (Tex.App.-Amarillo July 19, 2006, orig. proceeding); In re Johnson, No. 07-04-0558-CV, 2004 WL 2792191 (Tex.App.-Amarillo Dec. 3, 2004, orig. proceeding).

'Arial', sans-serif"> By letter, this Court granted Appellant thirty days in which to exercise her right to file a response to counsel’s brief, should she be so inclined. Id. at 409 n.23. Appellant did file a response. However, the State did not favor us with a brief.

          On July 2, 2008, Officer Jacob Diaz initiated a traffic stop of Appellant for expired registration. Appellant and the officer pulled into a parking lot. Officer Diaz asked Appellant to exit the vehicle, issued her a citation, then informed her she was free to leave. When she opened the door to enter her vehicle, he observed a white crystalline substance on the carpet between the door and driver’s seat. According to Officer Diaz’s testimony, when he inquired about the substance, Appellant admitted it was methamphetamine and that she was trying to dispose of it.

          During the plea hearing, Appellant testified that she had recently used marihuana and methamphetamine. During cross-examination, she admitted to a prior misdemeanor and felony conviction. She had been placed on community supervision for the felony conviction and was later revoked after pleading true to twelve violations of the terms and conditions thereof. Appellant requested that the trial court grant her either community supervision or allow her to enter a rehabilitation program. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court announced its decision to sentence her to confinement. The trial court was convinced Appellant would not change unless she was “separated from the dope scene entirely.”

          At the behest of Appellant, counsel presents two arguable issues: (1) Appellant’s plea was involuntary and (2) the trial court erred in denying Appellant’s request for probation. Counsel then concludes that the record and legal authorities do not support reversal of Appellant’s conviction on either issue.

          By her pro se response, Appellant maintains her trial attorney rendered ineffective assistance of counsel. After a review of the record before us, we conclude that under the standard of review provided by Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), Appellant has not demonstrated that her counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard.

          We have independently examined the entire record to determine whether there are any non-frivolous issues which might support the appeal. See Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988); In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 409; Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991). We have found no such issues. See Gainous v. State, 436 S.W.2d 137 (Tex.Crim.App. 1969). After reviewing the record, counsel’s brief, and Appellant’s pro se response, we agree with counsel that there are no plausible grounds for appeal. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005).

          Accordingly, counsel's motion to withdraw is granted and the trial court’s judgments are affirmed.

                                                                           Patrick A. Pirtle

Do not publish.