in Re Charles Robert Blake

IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-19-00236-CV

IN RE CHARLES ROBERT BLAKE

Original Proceeding

MEMORANDUM OPINION

In this mandamus proceeding, Charles R. Blake asks this Court to compel the trial court to appoint counsel for him to assist in his defense of a proceeding to determine the paternity of a child. Beyond the complete disregard for any of the rules of procedure regarding such a petition, including without limitation the form, service requirements, and payment of filing fees,1 there is no basis for this Court to issue a mandamus against

1 Absent a specific exemption, the Clerk of the Court must collect filing fees at the time a document is presented for filing. TEX. R. APP. P. 12.1(b); Appendix to TEX. R. APP. P., Order Regarding Fees (Amended Aug. 28, 2007, eff. Sept. 1, 2007). See also TEX. R. APP. P. 5; TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §§ 51.207(b); 51.208; § 51.941(a). Under these circumstances, we suspend the rule and order the Clerk to write off all unpaid filing fees in this case. TEX. R. APP. P. 2. The write-off of the fees from the accounts receivable of the Court in no way eliminates or reduces the fees owed.

the trial court judge in this matter. While an indigent civil litigant may request the trial court to appoint counsel, see TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 24.016, such appointment is entirely within the discretion of the trial court. See Gibson v. Tolbert, 102 S.W.3d 710, 712-13 (Tex. 2003). Absent "exceptional circumstances," a trial court is not required to appoint counsel to assist a civil litigant, even if that civil litigant is an indigent inmate. Id. The complete explanation in Blake’s petition for writ of mandamus is that he is “entering a General Denial of Paternity and don’t understand the law and need help with this suite to make sure my rights & interest is protected.” This is not exceptional circumstances. Accordingly, without requesting a response, see TEX. R. APP. P. 52.4, we deny Blake’s petition for writ of mandamus.

TOM GRAY Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Neill Petition denied Opinion delivered and filed July 31, 2019 [OT06]

In re Blake Page 2