in Re Author Manning

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN NO. 03-22-00226-CV In re Author Manning ORIGINAL PROCEEDING FROM TRAVIS COUNTY MEMORANDUM OPINION Relator has filed a document, which we treat as a petition for writ of mandamus based on the substance of his filing, complaining of the trial court’s failure to rule on his pro se motion filed within the last month. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.8(a); see also Surgitek, Bristol-Myers Corp. v. Abel, 997 S.W.2d 598, 601 (Tex. 1999) (considering the substance of pleading rather than form or caption to determine its nature). Although mandamus relief is generally available when the trial court has failed to rule on a properly filed motion within a reasonable length of time, a delay of less than one month is not unreasonable. See In re Whitfield, No. 03-18-00564-CV, 2018 WL 4140735, at *1 (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 29, 2018, orig. proceeding). Accordingly, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus. __________________________________________ Darlene Byrne, Chief Justice Before Chief Justice Byrne, Justices Kelly and Smith Filed: April 29, 2022