Summary
granting mandamus relief against district judge who ordered clerk not to accept inmate petition for filing
Summary of this case from In re RoweOpinion
Nos. 10-06-00235-CV, 10-06-00239-CV
Opinion issued and filed March 14, 2007.
Original Proceeding.
Before Chief Justice GRAY, Justice VANCE, and Justice REYNA (Chief Justice GRAY dissenting).
MEMORANDUM OPINION
In these two related original proceedings, the sole issue is whether the respondent district judge can sua sponte order the district clerk not to accept Relator Carl Long's two civil lawsuits for filing. Long seeks mandamus relief as to that order.
We will grant mandamus relief if there has been an abuse of discretion and the relator has no adequate legal remedy. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts "without reference to any guiding rules or principles," or stated another way, when the trial court acts in an arbitrary and unreasonable manner. City of San Benito v. Rio Grande Valley Gas Co., 109 S.W.3d 750, 757 (Tex. 2003).
Long's mandamus petitions and his underlying proposed lawsuits evolve from his prior criminal conviction and a related post-conviction writ of habeas corpus proceeding. The responses of the Respondent, the Honorable John H. Jackson, to Long's petitions (which attach and rely on findings from an evidentiary hearing before Respondent on Long's habeas writ), compel us to summarize the history of legal proceedings leading up to those now before us.
That history begins with Long's conviction of manufacturing a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and forty-five year prison sentence. We affirmed that conviction. See Long v. State, 137 S.W.3d 726 (Tex.App.-Waco 2004, pet. denied). Among the issues in Long's appeal were complaints about (1) the reliability of a confidential informant (CI) whose information was used to secure the search warrant the led to Long's arrest, (2) the trial court's denial of Long's motion to disclose the CI's identity, and (3) ineffective assistance of counsel. See id. at 729-36.
On the second matter, a majority of this court held that the trial court (Respondent herein) did not err. Id. at 731-33. The majority rejected Long's argument that an in camera hearing was required to determine whether the CI may be able to give testimony necessary to a fair determination of Long's guilt or innocence. Id. at 732. The majority wrote: "Robert Rios was a person Long blamed for actually manufacturing the methamphetamine. Long also suspected Rios was the CI." Id. at 733 n. 2. Long testified in a pretrial hearing that he had only been home about five minutes before the officers' arrival and that he had been in Rios' presence before then; he later testified that he had been home thirty minutes to one hour before the officers arrived with the search warrant. Long said that he "did not knowingly and intentionally manufacture nothing. I helped Robert Rios." Id. at 733.
Long, a pro se inmate, has also sought relief in the civil justice system. He has unsuccessfully sued various persons involved in his criminal case: Long v. Phillips, No. 10-04-00109-CV, 2004 WL 1574625 (Tex.App.-Waco July 7, 2004, no pet.) (mem. op.) (dismissing for lack of jurisdiction Long's direct appeal of trial court's order instructing district clerk not to file Long's lawsuit against his two attorneys); Long v. Tanner, 170 S.W.3d 752 (Tex.App.-Waco 2005, pet. denied) (affirming trial court's dismissal as frivolous of Long's suit against lead criminal investigator alleging fraud, violation of equal protection and due process, perjury, and aggravated perjury); and Long v. Batchelor, No. 10-04-00161-CV, 2005 WL 1704328 (Tex.App.-Waco July 20, 2005, no pet.) (mem. op.) (affirming trial court's dismissal as frivolous of Long's suit against district attorney alleging fraud, prosecutorial misconduct, concealment of the truth, tampering with evidence, and withholding of favorable evidence).
Long also filed a post-conviction writ of habeas corpus in the Court of Criminal Appeals, claiming ineffective assistance of counsel at his criminal trial.See Ex parte Long, No. WR-34986-06, 2005 WL 3307083 (Tex.Crim.App. Dec. 7, 2005) (not designated for publication); see also In re Long, No. 10-06-00311-CR, 2006 WL 3593525 (Tex.App.-Waco Dec. 6, 2006, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.). The writ was ultimately denied by the Court of Criminal Appeals without a written order.
Among other things, the Court of Criminal Appeals ordered the trial court to make findings (1) whether Robert Rios was subpoenaed as a witness and if not, why not, (2) whether Long's counsel decided not to call Elaine Stout as a defense witness, and (3) whether the defenses of entrapment and duress were ever raised or argued, jury instructions on those defenses requested, and if so, were they granted or denied and why. Ex parte Long, 2005 WL 3307083, at *1.
The two proposed lawsuits arise out of the March 2, 2006 trial court hearing in Long's post-conviction writ proceeding. See Ex parte Long, No. WR-34986-06, 2005 WL 3307083, at *1 (remanding writ proceeding to trial court for evidentiary hearing, if necessary). Long's first proposed suit (No. 06-00235-CV) is against Tony Wright, Long's former attorney in his criminal trial, and asserts claims against Wright based on Wright's alleged false testimony at the hearing on the writ issues. In his mandamus petition, Long alleges that the trial court ordered the district clerk not to accept Long's suit for filing and to return it without filing it. Long also complains that in the writ hearing, Respondent dismissed Wright as a witness before Long could write down cross-examination questions for his writ counsel to ask Wright. Long explains that he is now suing Wright for "intrinsic fraud" and "fraud on the court" for Wright's alleged false testimony at the writ hearing. In addition to money damages and the return of his homestead from Wright, Long seeks another evidentiary hearing and a new criminal trial.
Respondent filed a response to Long's petition; in it, Respondent does not deny Long's allegation that he ordered the district clerk not to file Long's suit against Wright. Respondent explains Long's suit "would be frivolous, in bad faith, and designed solely to harass, intimidate, and annoy Mr. Wright" and contends that Long is a vexatious litigant.
Respondent attached his findings from the March 2, 2006 habeas hearing to his response. Those findings address, inter alia, Wright's involvement as Long's trial counsel and Wright's testimony at the writ hearing on the matters set out by the Court of Criminal Appeals.
The second proposed suit (No. 06-00239-CV) is against Elaine Stout and Jorja Stout for their failure to obey subpoenas to appear and testify at Long's writ hearing. Long asserts that they can testify that: Rios broke into Long's home and threatened to assault Long; Rios solicited Long's help in manufacturing methamphetamine; Rios was with Long when law enforcement arrived at Long's house with a search warrant and Rios fled from Long's house and went to the Stouts' house; and Rios receive In addition to money damages from the Stouts, Long seeks another evidentiary hearing and a new criminal trial.
Long contends in his mandamus petition that the Stouts were subpoenaed for his habeas hearing but did not appear because of Elaine Stout's illness. He states that his habeas counsel thus served the Stouts with written questions to be answered under oath, but they failed to answer them.
Long has submitted to us the affidavit of Joe B. Brooks, which we note not for any evidentiary value, but to place in context the writ proceeding with the relief sought in Long's proposed suits. The Brooks affidavit states verbatim:
1) Mr. Robert Rios, told me personally and voluntarily "that he did run from the home of Carl Long's when the police officers arrived."
2) Robert Rios, also told me personally and voluntarily "that the police/sheriff's department gave him $300.00 dollars cash to set Carl Long up."
3) Robert Rios asked me to "lie" and say that he was with me and not with Carl Long on the night of Carl Long's arrest. I would not have lied. I was never asked!
4) Mr Robert Rios is now living in Abilene, Texas, and I can and will provide his telephone number to any/all court authority upon request.
[ sic]
In support of his request for mandamus relief, Long has tendered a July 18, 2006 order entered by Respondent and entitled "Order Directing Clerk Not To Accept Filing":
On this date, the Court reviewed documents submitted by Carl Long purporting to be a civil suit wherein Jorja and Elaine Stout are defendants. This Court has previously addressed numerous civil suits and requests for post-judgment relief sought by Mr. Long in connection with his conviction for Manufacture of a Controlled Substance. All issues addressed in Mr. Long's purported filings have been previously resolved in other proceedings. Also, the relief sought by Mr. Long with respect to Jorja and Elaine Stout is not the proper subject of an independent civil suit, there being more appropriate means to obtain the requested relief. Further the Court has found that the testimony of Jorja and Elaine Stout requested by Mr. Long did not serve to resolve any issues.
The Court is hereby directing the Clerk to return Mr. Long's documents without filing.
Respondent's response to Long's mandamus petition relating to the proposed Stout suit summarizes the writ hearing testimony of Tony Wright and Don Phillips, Long's criminal trial counsel (whom Long alleges provided ineffective assistance), who both testified that they believed that the Stouts' testimony would hurt, rather than help, Long. But Respondent also acknowledges that Paul Fulbright, Long's writ counsel, believes otherwise. Before concluding that Long's proposed suit against the Stouts is an "abuse of process" and that Long is a vexatious litigant, the response states in part:
This response likewise attaches Respondent's writ findings, which note (Finding 21) that Elaine Stout's sworn statement dated April 26, 2001 was admitted at the writ hearing. Long has submitted that sworn statement as evidence in this original proceeding, but we acknowledge it only for its contextual value. It states verbatim:
I Elaine Stout was in court the day of Carl Longs' trail. Don Phillips was Carl's attorney, Don Phillips asked me what I knew about Carl's case. I then told him what I knew and what I believed happen the night of the crime. One thing I told him, was the night of the crime "Robert Rios left with Carl came back a couple hours later and left again. Then I heard on the scanner Carl had been arrested and there was an unknown subject to run just a few minutes after I heard this Robert came walking up to my house. Robert was living with me at the time." Then Don Phillips told me he was tired of this nonsense and said he was not putting any one else on the witness stand.
[ sic]
7. This Court granted full authority to Long's writ counsel to obtain any information from the Stouts, by any means possible, whether by affidavit, depositions, or other means. Mr. Fulbright has advised this Court that he does believe these witnesses would be helpful, based on his unsuccessful attempts to contact them, and other information he has gathered.
8. This Court has agreed to reopen the testimony relative to writ proceedings at any time and to issue such processes as are necessary to compel the attendance of Elaine and Jorja Stout. This Court would reappoint Mr. Fulbright or other counsel should Mr. [Long] so desire.
From Long's various filings, it appears that his litigious quest is primarily focused on getting a new trial by obtaining evidence showing that his criminal trial counsel provided ineffective assistance for their failure to subpoena or call Elaine Stout, Jorja Stout, or Robert Rios as witnesses with respect to Long's purported duress and entrapment defenses and, with respect to Rios, the apparent CI, to show that he is or was able to give testimony necessary to a fair determination of Long's guilt or innocence. Those issues are reserved for a writ of habeas corpus proceeding. We note Respondent's amenability in his response to Long's mandamus petition to reopen the writ proceeding testimony and to issue process for the reopened proceeding, along with his amenability in his writ findings (Conclusion No. 11) to make additional findings should the Stouts and Rios be compelled to testify.
It appears that neither the Stouts nor Rios has ever provided in-court testimony relative to Long's issues.
The above history does not resolve the issue in these original proceedings of Respondent's order that the district clerk not accept Long's two proposed civil suits. It is the trial court who is "ordering" the district clerk not to file his suits.See In re Bernard, 993 S.W.2d at 454 (O'Connor, J., concurring) ("When a district clerk refuses to accept a pleading for filing, the party should attempt to file the pleading directly with the district judge, explaining in a verified motion that the clerk refused to accept the pleading for filing. TEX. R. CIV. P. 74."). It is thus within our mandamus power to direct the district judge to rescind his order to the district clerk not to accept Long's lawsuits. See id. ("Should the district judge refuse to accept the pleading for filing, this Court would have jurisdiction under our mandamus power to direct the district judge to file the pleading.").
The district clerk has a ministerial duty to accept and file all pleadings presented for filing. In re Bernard, 993 S.W.2d 453, 454 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, orig. proceeding) (O'Connor, J., concurring); see also DeLeon v. District Clerk, 187 S.W.3d 473, 474 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006) (orig. proceeding). But, a court of appeals has no jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus against a district clerk except to protect our jurisdiction. See TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 22.221(b) (Vernon 2004) ; In re Bernard, 993 S.W.2d 453, 454 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, orig. proceeding). The district court also has the power to issue writs to enforce its jurisdiction. See TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 24.011 (Vernon 2004); In re Bernard, 993 S.W.2d at 454 (O'Connor, J., concurring) ("When a district clerk refuses to accept a pleading presented for filing, the party presenting the document may seek relief by filing an application for writ of mandamus in the district court.").
In our judicial system, the merits of a lawsuit are determined after it is filed — not before. Statutes exist for determining whether a litigant is vexatious and for the application of procedures once a litigant has been found to be vexatious. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. REM. CODE ANN. § § 11.051-.57, 11.101-.104 (Vernon 2002). Because those statutes have not been implemented or followed, the trial court abused its discretion. As for Long, he must comply with the applicable law on inmate litigation, as long as he proceeds as an indigent plaintiff. See id. § § 14.001-.014.
We further find that Long lacks an adequate remedy by appeal; there are no underlying actions and thus no appealable orders in those actions. Cf. Long v. Phillips, No. 10-04-109-CV, 2004 WL 1574625 (Tex.App.-Waco July 7, 2004, no pet.); Simpson v. Sehorn, No. 10-03-215-CV, 2003 WL 23121314 (Tex.App.-Waco Dec. 31, 2003, no pet.).
We conditionally grant Long's petitions for writ of mandamus. The writs will issue only if Respondent does not notify us within 14 days that he has rescinded his order to the district clerk not to accept Long's lawsuits.
In a supplemental petition, Long requests that we order the trial court to have a civil jury trial, a change in venue, and an evidentiary hearing in both proposed lawsuits. Those requests have not been made or ruled on in the trial court; they thus cannot be the proper subject of relief in these proceedings.
The record properly before us in both proceedings supports only one result. Both petitions should be denied. Most of the majority opinion is necessary to explain why they want to grant the petitions rather than an analysis to support their ruling on the petitions. I note, as I have noted before, that the real party in interest in both petitions has never been made a party to these proceedings. I dissent.