Opinion
NO. WR-90,073-01
08-12-2020
IN RE RANDALL GREENOUGH, Relator
ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF MANDAMUS CAUSE NOS. 22,719-2015; 22,720-2015; 22,721-2015; 23,424-2017; 23,425-2017 & 23,426-2017 IN THE 402ND DISTRICT COURT FROM WOOD COUNTY
Per curiam. ORDER
In July 2019, Relator filed a motion for leave to file an application for a writ of mandamus pursuant to the original jurisdiction of this Court. He argued, among other things, that he filed motions to unseal and redact the trial transcript in his cases and that he had not received a response from the trial judge. We held his application and directed Respondent, the Honorable Jeff Fletcher, Judge of the 402nd District Court, to file a response with this Court and state whether Relator's motions were properly filed, when his motions were filed, and whether Judge Fletcher had ruled on his motions. In re Greenough, No. WR-90,073-01 (Tex. Crim. App. July 24, 2019) (not designed for publication).
Judge Fletcher timely responded and said, among other things, that the trial transcript in Relator's cases was not sealed. After reviewing Judge Fletcher's response, we denied leave to file in a written order explaining that if Relator wanted to buy a copy of the record in his cases, he should send a request to the Wood County District Clerk for a cost estimate. In re Greenough, No. WR-90,073-01 (Tex. Crim. App. Oct. 30, 2019) (not designed for publication).
After we denied leave to file in this case, we received a copy of a letter in which the District Clerk explained to Relator that she could not provide a cost estimate because the clerk's record and trial transcript in his cases were sealed. We also received a copy of an order Judge Fletcher signed on February 2, 2018, sealing the entirety of the trial transcript and clerk's record in Relator's cases.
We now withdraw on our own motion the previous disposition in this case and direct Judge Fletcher to file a second response stating whether (1) the entire clerk's record and trial transcript in Relator's cases were sealed; (2) Relator properly filed motions to unseal and redact the record; and (3) Judge Fletcher ruled on Relator's motions. If the entire clerk's record and trial transcript were sealed, Judge Fletcher shall also state the legal basis for his order sealing the entirety of the clerk's record and trial transcript in Relator's cases. He shall also state whether portions of the record should have been redacted rather than sealed. This motion for leave to file will be held. Judge Fletcher shall comply with this order within thirty days from the date of this order. Filed: August 12, 2020
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