Opinion
13-23-00144-CV
07-12-2023
IN THE INTEREST OF A.V., A CHILD
On appeal from the County Court at Law No. 5 of Nueces County, Texas.
Before Justices Tijerina, Silva, and Pena
ORDER
PER CURIAM
This is an appeal from a final order terminating parental rights. The court reporter has filed a second motion for extension of time to file the reporter's record requesting an additional twenty (20) days. We previously granted the court reporter's first motion for extension of time to file the reporter's record, and it was due on July 7, 2023.
The court reporter filed her motion for her first extension of time to file the reporter's record on June 13, 2023. On June 27, 2023, we granted that motion by letter and set the date as requested as July 7, 2023. In our letter, we informed the court reporter that appellant had filed an affidavit of inability to pay and that she is indigent and entitled to a reporter's record at no cost.
Appeals in parental termination and child protection cases are governed by the rules of appellate procedure for accelerated appeals but include additional expedited deadlines and procedures. See TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4; TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). The intermediate appellate courts are directed to ensure "as far as reasonably possible" that these appeals are brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed. TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). Given the nature of these cases and the shortened appellate deadlines, we usually limit the request to one ten-day extension of time absent truly extraordinary circumstances. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(d).
This Court, having fully examined and considered the court reporter's request is of the opinion that, in the interest of justice, the court reporter's second request for extension of time to file the reporter's record should be granted in part with order. The Court, however, requires strict adherence to the briefing rules in appeals of parental termination cases, such as this appeal, and looks with disfavor upon the delay caused by such extension requests. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6; see also id. at R. 28.4.
The Court grants the court reporter's request for extension of time in part, insofar as the Court will extend the court reporter's deadline to file the reporter's record for five (5) days from the date of this order. Further requests for extension of time will not be favorably entertained by this Court, absent extraordinary circumstances.