WR-81,953-06
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Transmitted 1/23/2015 4:52:16 PM
Accepted 1/26/2015 8:14:35 AM
ABEL ACOSTA
No.______________ CLERK
In the RECEIVED
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas 1/26/2015
At Austin ABEL ACOSTA, CLERK
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IN RE THE STATE OF TEXAS
EX REL. MICHAEL MUNK
Relator
V.
HON. CARTER SCHILDKNECHT, PRESIDING JUDGE,
106TH DISTRICT COURT OF TEXAS
Respondent
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STATE’S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE
APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF PROHIBITION
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TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS:
COMES NOW THE STATE OF TEXAS, in accordance with Rules 10.1(a)
and 72.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, and files this motion for leave
to file an application for a writ of prohibition, and, in support thereof, presents the
following:
1. On October 6, 2014, Relator petitioned the 11th Court of Appeals for writs
of mandamus and prohibition regarding an order by Respondent that would
require the State to generate and provide criminal histories for all of the
State’s non-law-enforcement witnesses in the Gaines County case of State v.
Desirae Mata, cause 14-4487.
2. On November 10, 2014, the 11th Court of Appeals issued an opinion
conditionally granting Relator’s request for mandamus relief. Respondent
withdrew her earlier order and issued a new order complying with the
opinion.
3. Following the issuance of the 11th Court of Appeals’ opinion, defendants
have on numerous occasions presented Respondent with requests for
discovery similar to the request that resulted in the order at issue in Mata.
Respondent continues to order the State to provide discovery that
Respondent does not have the authority or discretion to order, in violation of
article 39.14 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the opinion of the
11th Court of Appeals.
4. The State has no adequate remedy at law, because the State has no privilege
to appeal a pretrial discovery order. The action the State seeks to prohibit is
a ministerial duty not subject to judicial discretion. The State has a clear
right to the relief requested.
5. Because Respondent continues to order that discovery be provided that
Respondent has neither the discretion nor the authority to order, the State
requests leave to file its Application for Writ of Prohibition with this
honorable Court, and thereafter prays that this Court issue the Writ of
Prohibition ordering the trial court to refrain from ordering (1) that the State
generate criminal histories for its non-law-enforcement witnesses that it does
not already possess, and (2) that the State provide criminal histories of its
non-law-enforcement witnesses to defendants in the absence of a showing of
good cause, materiality, and possession by the State.
WHEREFORE, the State prays that this Court will grant the State’s motion
for leave to file its application for a writ of prohibition.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Munk
District Attorney
106th Judicial District
P.O. Box 1124
Lamesa, Texas 79331
(806) 872-2259
(806) 872-3174 fax
Bar No. 24052943
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Michael Munk, District Attorney for the 106th Judicial District, hereby
certify that a true copy of the above and foregoing Motion for Leave to File
Application for Writ of Prohibition was transmitted by email to Judge Carter T.
Schildknecht, on this the 23rd day of January, 2015.
Michael Munk
ATTORNEY FOR STATE
in Re State of Texas Ex Rel Michael Munk, District Attorney, 106th Judical District
Combined Opinion