Opinion
No. 04-14-00326-CR
05-14-2014
IN RE Ricardo LAWSON
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Original Mandamus Proceeding
This proceeding arises out of Cause No. 2014CR0512, styled The State of Texas v. Ricardo Lawson, pending in the 144th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas.
PER CURIAM Sitting: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
Karen Angelini, Justice
Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS DENIED
On May 5, 2014, relator Ricardo Lawson filed a pro se petition for writ of mandamus complaining of the trial court's failure to rule on his pro se motion for speedy trial pending in the underlying criminal proceeding. However, counsel has been appointed to represent relator in the criminal proceeding for which he is currently confined. A criminal defendant is not entitled to hybrid representation. See Robinson v. State, 240 S.W.3d 919, 922 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 498 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). A trial court has no legal duty to rule on pro se motions or petitions filed with regard to a criminal proceeding in which the defendant is represented by counsel. See Robinson, 240 S.W.3d at 922. Consequently, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by declining to rule on relator's pro se motion filed in the pending criminal matter. Accordingly, the petition for writ of mandamus is denied. TEX. R. APP. P. 52.8(a).
Additionally, relator submitted an application for leave to file his petition for writ of mandamus. No leave is required to file a petition for writ of mandamus in this court. TEX. R. APP. P. 52. Therefore, relator's request for leave to file is denied as moot.
PER CURIAM
DO NOT PUBLISH