Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 2019

in Re Christopher Schmotzer

in Re Christopher Schmotzer
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided November 27, 2019

in Re Christopher Schmotzer

Opinion

IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-19-00413-CR IN RE CHRISTOPHER SCHMOTZER

Original Proceeding

MEMORANDUM OPINION

In this mandamus proceeding,1 Christopher Schmotzer requests this Court to order the Brazos County District Attorney to turn over Brady2 material which Schmotzer does not possess. There are procedural problems with Schmotzer's mandamus petition, such as no record is included with the petition, TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7; however, we use Rule 2 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure to look beyond these problems and proceed to a timely disposition of this proceeding. See TEX. R. APP. P. 2.

Schmotzer titled his document, “Motion to Compel.” Due to the nature of the relief requested, we characterize the document as a petition for writ of mandamus.

See Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963).

As a Court of Appeals, we have no jurisdiction to compel a district attorney to act except to enforce our jurisdiction. See TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 22.221(a), (b). Schmotzer has not alleged any need for this Court to enforce our jurisdiction.

Accordingly, Schmotzer's petition is dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

TOM GRAY Chief Justice Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Neill Dismissed Opinion delivered and filed November 27, 2019 Do not publish [OT06]

In re Schmotzer Page 2

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