in Re Jason Charles Carter

Opinion

Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas

MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-18-00948-CV

IN RE Jason Charles CARTER

Original Mandamus Proceeding 1

Sitting: Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice Irene Rios, Justice

Delivered and Filed: December 19, 2018

PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS DENIED

Relator filed a petition for writ of mandamus complaining the trial court has refused to rule

on any of his motions. Because relator has not provided this court with a sufficient record, we

deny the petition for writ of mandamus.

DISCUSSION

To establish a right to mandamus relief in a criminal case, the relator must show the trial

court violated a ministerial duty and there is no adequate remedy at law. In re State ex rel. Weeks,

391 S.W.3d 117, 122 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (orig. proceeding). A trial court has a ministerial

duty to rule on a properly-filed and timely-presented motion. See In re State ex rel. Young v. Sixth

Judicial Dist. Court of Appeals, 236 S.W.3d 207, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (orig. proceeding).

1 This proceeding arises out of Cause No. 17316-A, styled The State of Texas v. Jason Charles Carter, pending in the 216th Judicial District Court, Kerr County, Texas, the Honorable N. Keith Williams presiding. 04-18-00948-CV

However, a relator has the burden of providing this court with a record sufficient to

establish his right to mandamus relief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7(a)(1) (requiring relator to file “a

certified or sworn copy of every document that is material to the relator’s claim for relief and that

was filed in any underlying proceeding”). In a case such as this one, a relator has the burden to

provide the court of appeals with a record showing the motion at issue was properly filed, the trial

court was made aware of the motion, and the motion has not been ruled on by the trial court for an

unreasonable period of time. See In re Mendoza, 131 S.W.3d 167, 167-68 (Tex. App.—San

Antonio 2004, orig. proceeding).

Here, relator has not provided this court with file-stamped copies of his motions or any

proof indicating the trial court is aware of the motions. Also, relator has not provided a record

establishing his motions have awaited disposition for an unreasonable period of time. Id. Because

relator did not provide this court with a sufficient record, relator has not shown himself entitled to

mandamus relief. Accordingly, the petition for writ of mandamus is denied.

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