Opinion
No. 04-17-00258-CV
05-11-2017
Claudia PUENTES, Appellant v. STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
From the 166th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2016-CI-16793
Honorable Rosie Alvarado, Judge Presiding
ORDER
Appellant's "Motion to Suspend the Rules for Electronic Filing" is DENIED. In her motion, appellant also requests appointment of new appellate counsel. The Texas Supreme Court has explained that "[h]istorically, [it] ha[s] never held that a civil litigant must be represented by counsel in order for a court to carry on its essential, constitutional function." Gibson v. Tolbert, 102 S.W.3d 710, 712 (Tex. 2003). The court noted that it "ha[d] suggested, in the context of discussing the courts' inherent power to appoint counsel in civil cases, that under exceptional circumstances, the public and private interests at stake may be such that the administration of justice may best be served by appointing a lawyer to represent an indigent civil litigant." Id. We do not conclude that this appeal constitutes one of those "exceptional circumstances." Therefore, appellant's request for appointment of new appellate counsel is also DENIED.
Finally, Appellant's "Motion for Recusal of All 'Anti-"Indian" Americans'" is DENIED.
/s/_________
Karen Angelini, Justice
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on this 11th day of May, 2017.
/s/_________
Keith E. Hottle
Clerk of Court