Opinion
No. 14-11-00154-CR
Opinion filed March 10, 2011. DO NOT PUBLISH — TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Original Proceeding Writ of Mandamus. Appealed from the 182nd District Court, Harris County, Texas, Trial Court Cause No. 1146334.
Panel consists of Justices BROWN, BOYCE, and JAMISON.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On February 25, 2011, relator, Henderson LaRaun, filed a petition for writ of mandamus in this Court. See Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 22.221 (Vernon 2004); see also Tex. R. App. P. 52. In his petition, relator requests this court to compel the Honorable Jeanine Barr, presiding judge of the 182nd District Court of Harris County, Texas, to rule on motions that he claims to have filed in her court. To be entitled to mandamus relief, a relator must show that he has no adequate remedy at law to redress his alleged harm, and what he seeks to compel is a ministerial act, not involving a discretionary or judicial decision. State ex rel. Young v. Sixth Judicial Dist. Court of Appeals at Texarkana, 236 S.W.3d 207, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (orig.proceeding). Consideration of a motion that is properly filed and before the court is a ministerial act. State ex rel. Curry v. Gray, 726 S.W.2d 125, 128 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987) (orig.proceeding) (op. on reh'g). A relator must establish the trial court (1) had a legal duty to rule on the motion; (2) was asked to rule on the motion; and (3) failed to do so. In re Keeter, 134 S.W.3d 250, 252 (Tex. App.-Waco 2003, orig. proceeding). A relator must show that the trial court received, was aware of, and asked to rule on the motion. In re Villarreal, 96 S.W.3d 708, 710 (Tex. App.-Amarillo 2003, orig. proceeding). Filing something with the district clerk's office does not mean the trial court is aware of it; nor is the clerk's knowledge imputed to the trial court. Id. at n. 2. Relator has not provided file-stamped copies of any motions demonstrating they are actually pending in the trial court. Absent a showing the trial court is aware of and been asked to rule on his motions, relator has not established his entitlement to the extraordinary relief of a writ of mandamus. Accordingly, we deny relator's petition for writ of mandamus.