In Re: Courtney B. Warren v. the State of Texas

NO. 12-24-00235-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS

IN RE: §

COURTNEY B. WARREN, § ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

RELATOR §

MEMORANDUM OPINION
PER CURIAM
Courtney B. Warren, an attorney acting pro se, filed this original proceeding to challenge
various actions taken by Respondent. 1 On July 23, 2024, the Clerk of this Court informed
Relator that her petition fails to comply with appellate Rules 52.3(b), (j)-(k) and 52.7. See TEX.
R. APP. P. 52.3 (form and contents of petition); TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7 (record). The notice warned
that the petition would be referred to this Court for dismissal unless Relator provided an
amended petition and the record on or before July 26. This deadline expired without a response
from Relator.

Generally, a party seeking mandamus relief must bring forward all that is necessary to
establish a claim for mandamus relief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52. The petition must contain certain
items, including an appendix. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.3. Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 52.7
requires the relator to file a record as part of her petition in an original proceeding. TEX. R. APP.
P. 52.7. Specifically, a relator must file (1) a certified or sworn copy of every document that is
material to her claim for relief and that was filed in any underlying proceeding; and (2) “a

1
Respondent is the Honorable Taylor B. Heaton, Judge of the 475th District Court in Smith County, Texas.
The State of Texas and Vincente Zavaleta are the Real Parties in Interest.
properly authenticated transcript of any relevant testimony from any underlying proceeding,
including any exhibits offered in evidence, or a statement that no testimony was adduced in
connection with the matter complained.” TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7(a).
It is a relator’s burden to provide this Court with a record sufficient to establish the right
to mandamus relief. See In re Mack, No. 12-19-00238-CV, 2019 WL 3024757, at *1 (Tex.
App.–Tyler July 10, 2019, orig. proceeding) (mem op.). In this case, Relator did not provide a
record in accordance with Rule 52.7. Absent a record, we cannot determine whether Relator is
entitled to mandamus relief. See id. Because Relator’s petition fails to comply with the appellate
rules, nothing is presented for this Court to review. Therefore, we deny the petition for writ of
mandamus. All pending motions are overruled as moot.

Opinion delivered July 31, 2024.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.

2
COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
JUDGMENT

JULY 31, 2024

NO. 12-24-00235-CV

COURTNEY B. WARREN,
Relator
V.

HON. JUDGE TAYLOR B. HEATON,
Respondent

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

ON THIS DAY came to be heard the petition for writ of mandamus filed by
Courtney B. Warren; who is the relator in appellate cause number 12-24-00235-CV and counsel
to the defendant in trial court cause number 475-1501-23, pending on the docket of the 475th
Judicial District Court of Smith County, Texas. Said petition for writ of mandamus having been
filed herein on July 23, 2024, and the same having been duly considered, because it is the
opinion of this Court that the writ should not issue, it is therefore CONSIDERED, ADJUDGED
and ORDERED that the said petition for writ of mandamus be, and the same is, hereby denied.
By per curiam opinion.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J. and Neeley, J.