COURT OF APPEALS
SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH
NO. 2-09-149-CV
IN RE SADIQ ADELEKE RELATOR
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ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
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MEMORANDUM OPINION 1
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The court has considered Relator Sadiq Adeleke’s petition for writ of
mandamus and is of the opinion that relief should be denied.
To the extent that Relator complains of matters pertaining to his final
conviction, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has exclusive jurisdiction. See
Board of Pardons & Paroles ex. rel. Keene v. Court of Appeals for the Eighth
Dist., 910 S.W.2d 481, 483 (Tex. Crim. App.1995); In re Briscoe, 230 S.W.3d
196, 196 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, orig. proceeding) (stating
that courts of appeal have no jurisdiction over post-conviction writs of habeas
corpus in felony cases); see also Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.07 (Vernon
Supp. 2008).
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… See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
To the extent that Relator complains of the trial court’s failure to conduct
a hearing on his motion for DNA testing, Chapter 64 does not expressly require
a hearing before the trial court determines whether to order DNA testing; rather
it appears to contemplate that the decision may be made on the basis of the
applicant’s motion and supporting affidavit and the State’s written response.
See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 64.03 (Vernon Supp. 2008); In re Fain, 83
S.W.3d 885, 888 (Tex. App.—Austin 2002, no pet.). To the extent that
Relator complains of the trial court’s denial of his motion for DNA testing on
December 11, 2008, the denial of a motion for DNA testing is appealable. See
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 64.05 (Vernon 2006); Reger v. State, 222
S.W.3d 510, 513 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007, pet. ref’d); Lopez v. State,
114 S.W.3d 711, 714 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.). Accordingly,
Relator had an adequate remedy by appeal but failed to pursue it.
To the extent that Relator complains of the trial court’s failure to conduct
a hearing on his motion for new trial, nothing in the record indicates that this
motion has been presented to the trial court. Presentment of the motion to the
trial court is a prerequisite to mandamus relief. See O’Connor v. First Court of
Appeals, 837 S.W.2d 94, 97 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding) (“Mandamus will
issue when there is a legal duty to perform a non-discretionary act, a demand
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for performance, and a refusal.”); In re Chavez, 62 S.W.3d 225, 228 (Tex.
App.—Amarillo 2001, orig. proceeding) (“Indeed, one can hardly be faulted for
doing nothing if he were never aware of the need to act.”). Additionally,
whether a trial court abuses its discretion by not holding a hearing on a motion
for new trial is appealable. See, e.g., Lemmons v. State, No. 02-04-00086-CR,
2005 WL 1356270, at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 9, 2005, pet. ref’d)
(mem. op., not designated for publication) (holding trial court did not abuse
discretion by not holding hearing).
Accordingly, Relator’s petition for writ of mandamus is denied.
PER CURIAM
PANEL: MCCOY, GARDNER, and WALKER, JJ.
DELIVERED: July 28, 2009
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in Re Sadiq Adeleke
Combined Opinion