Opinion
05-24-01014-CV
08-30-2024
Original Proceeding from the 44th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. DC-21-11407
MEMORANDUM OPINION
DENNISE GARCIA JUSTICE
Before Justices Pedersen, III, Smith, and Garcia Opinion by Justice Garcia Before the Court is relators' August 27, 2024 petition for writ of mandamus. Upon review, relators' petition does not meet the requirements of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure for consideration of mandamus relief. See, e.g., TEX. R. APP. P. 52.1, 52.3(k)(1)(A), 52.3(i), 52.7(a)(1), 52.7(a)(2).
For example, relators' appendix and record are deficient. Relators bear the burden to provide the Court with a record that is sufficient to show they are entitled to mandamus relief. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). Relators failed to meet this burden because the documents included in their appendix and record are not certified or sworn copies as required by the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.3(k)(1)(A), 52.7(a)(1); In re Butler, 270 S.W.3d 757, 758-59 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2008, orig. proceeding). Certified copies may be ordered from the appropriate court clerk. See In re Hamilton, No. 05-19-01458-CV, 2020 WL 64679, at *1 (Tex. App.-Dallas Jan. 7, 2020, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.). Documents become sworn copies when they are attached to an affidavit or to an unsworn declaration stating under penalty of perjury that the person making the affidavit or unsworn declaration has personal knowledge that the copies of the documents attached are correct copies of the originals. See id.; see also TEX. CIV. PRAC. &REM. CODE ANN. § 132.001. Relators attempted to authenticate the documents in their appendix and record with an attorney certification that fails to comply with the above requirements.
Accordingly, we deny relators' petition for writ of mandamus.