in Re Victor Ray

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: August 5, 2009
• Docket: 04-09-00395-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

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MEMORANDUM OPINION

No. 04-09-00395-CR

IN RE Victor RAY

Original Mandamus Proceeding1

PER CURIAM

Sitting: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice Rebecca Simmons, Justice Steven C. Hilbig, Justice

Delivered and Filed: August 5, 2009

PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS DENIED

On July 1, 2009, relator Victor Ray filed a petition for writ of mandamus, seeking to compel

the trial court to rule on his motion to dismiss appointed counsel, Dan McCauley, and his motion for

pro se representation. However, on July 10, 2009, the trial court signed an order granting Dan

McCauley’s motion to withdraw as one of relator’s attorneys of record.2 Therefore, we deny as moot

the relief sought regarding the motion to dismiss appointed counsel.

… This proceeding arises out of Cause No. 2008-CR-5121, styled State of Texas v. Victor Ray, pending in the 1

379th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas, the Honorable Ron Rangel presiding.

… On July 10, 2009, the trial court also signed an order granting Martin Guerra’s motion to withdraw as 2

relator’s other attorney of record. 04-09-00395-CR

We next turn to relator’s contention that the trial court has failed to rule on his motion for

pro se representation. To obtain a writ of mandamus compelling the trial court to consider and rule

on a motion, a relator must establish that the trial court: (1) had a legal duty to perform a non-

discretionary act; (2) was asked to perform the act; and (3) failed or refused to do so. In re Molina,

94 S.W.3d 885, 886 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, orig. proceeding) (per curiam). When a

properly filed motion is pending before a trial court, the act of giving consideration to and ruling

upon that motion is ministerial, and mandamus may issue to compel the trial judge to act. See

Safety-Kleen Corp. v. Garcia, 945 S.W.2d 268, 269 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997, orig.

proceeding). However, mandamus will not issue unless the record shows that a properly filed

motion has awaited disposition for an unreasonable amount of time. See id. It is relator’s burden

to provide this court with a record sufficient to establish his right to relief. Walker v. Packer, 827

S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tex. 1992); TEX . R. APP . P. 52.3(k), 52.7(a).

The record before us fails to establish relator is entitled to the relief requested. Although

relator alleges he filed his motion on June 24, 2009, relator has not provided this court with a file

stamped copy of the motion, a copy of the trial court’s docket, or any other proof that he filed the

motion and that it is pending before the trial court. In addition, if a motion is properly filed, a trial

court has a reasonable time within which to perform its ministerial duty. See Safety-Kleen, 945

S.W.2d at 269. Even if relator’s motion was properly filed, the motion has not awaited disposition

for an unreasonable amount of time.

Accordingly, because relator has not met his burden of providing a record establishing that

a motion was properly filed and has awaited disposition for an unreasonable amount of time, he has

not provided this court with grounds to usurp the trial court’s inherent authority to control its own

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docket. See In re Mendoza, 131 S.W.3d 167, 168 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, orig. proceeding).

Accordingly, relator’s petition for writ of mandamus is denied. TEX . R. APP . P. 52.8(a).

DO NOT PUBLISH

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