NO. 07-06-0064-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL D
APRIL 6, 2006
______________________________
IN RE ARTHUR AGUILAR, JR., RELATOR
______________________________
Before QUINN, C.J., and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.
ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR MANDAMUS
AND MOTION TO STAY THE UNDERLYING PROCEEDING
By this original proceeding, relator Arthur Aguilar, Jr. seeks a writ of mandamus to
compel the Honorable Felix Klein to rescind the temporary order of December 20, 2005,
naming the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services temporary managing
conservator of the minor child of relator and real party in interest Kami Eady. 1 After a
hearing on relator’s motion to modify temporary orders and for extraordinary relief, Judge
Gleason signed the December 20 order based on results of a hair follicle test indicating the
presence of methamphetamine in the child at a level more than ten times the threshold
1
The order was signed by the Honorable David L. Gleason, Senior District Judge,
who has since been recused.
amount of an adult. The order recites that the trial court did not have conclusive evidence
of the source of the methamphetamine and found the child’s physical health was
endangered. Although the order provides for the Department to fully investigate the
circumstances of the child’s exposure to methamphetamine and advise the Court
concerning the child’s welfare, the record does not indicate if a report has been provided
of the results of the investigation.
Following Judge Gleason’s recusal and appointment of Judge Klein, on February
8, 2006, relator filed a motion before Judge Klein seeking to rescind the December 20
order. However, according to the record before us, no hearing was held nor order
rendered on that motion. Following the filing of this petition, the Department filed an
original petition for protection of the child, for conservatorship, and for termination of the
parent/child relationship. The Department’s petition prompted relator to file a motion to stay
the underlying proceedings.
Relator presents seven issues not necessarily relevant to a mandamus proceeding.2
The source of the child’s exposure to methamphetamine is a fact question that cannot be
determined by a mandamus proceeding. See Brady v. Fourteenth Court of Appeals, 795
2
Relator contends the trial court testified in violation of Rule 605 of the Texas Rules
of Evidence. Rule 605 is implicated when a trial judge steps down from the bench and
becomes a witness. See Hensarling v. State, 829 S.W.2d 168, 171 (Tex.Cr.App. 1992).
There is nothing in this record to indicate Judge Gleason became a witness. Additionally,
comments from a trial judge constitute ordinary trial error that must be preserved for
appellate review. See In re M.S., 73 S.W.3d 537, 539-40 (Tex.App.–Beaumont 2002),
rev’d on other grounds, 115 S.W.3d 534 (Tex. 2003).
2
S.W.2d 712, 714 (Tex. 1990). Additionally, when a motion is properly pending before a
trial court, the act of considering and ruling upon it is a ministerial act. Eli Lilly and Co. v.
Marshall, 829 S.W.2d 157, 158 (Tex. 1992). However, before relator may be entitled to
mandamus relief, he must provide a sufficient record to show the motion was presented
to the trial court and it refused to act. In re Villarreal, 96 S.W.3d 708, 710 n.2
(Tex.App.–Amarillo 2003, orig. proceeding). The record does not reflect whether Judge
Klein has been advised of the relief sought nor whether he has declined to set a hearing
on relator’s motion to rescind the December 20 order. Accordingly, relator’s petition for writ
of mandamus and motion to stay the underlying proceeding are denied.
It is so ordered.
Per Curiam
3