Opinion
No. 05-16-00497-CV
05-20-2016
IN THE INTEREST OF F.C., A MINOR
On Appeal from the 305th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. JD-82096-X
ORDER
The Court has the May 17, 2016 motion to withdraw filed by Mark A. Perez. We GRANT the motion. We DIRECT the Clerk to remove Mr. Perez as F.C.'s counsel of record.
Because this is a juvenile proceeding, F.C. cannot represent himself. Accordingly, we ORDER the trial court to conduct a hearing to determine the following:
• The trial court shall first determine whether appellant desires to pursue the appeal. If the trial court determines appellant no longer desires to pursue the appeal, the trial court shall make a finding to that effect, and no further findings are necessary.
• If the trial court determines that appellant does wish to pursue the appeal, the trial court shall determine whether appellant is indigent and entitled to court-appointed counsel. If appellant is indigent, we ORDER the trial court to appoint counsel to represent him. If appellant is not indigent, the trial court shall determine whether appellant has retained new counsel and shall provide the name, State Bar number, and contact information for new counsel.
We ORDER the trial court to transmit a record containing the written finding of fact, any supporting documentation, and any orders to this Court within TWENTY DAYS of the date of this order.
The appeal is ABATED to allow the trial court to comply with this order. It shall be reinstated twenty days from the date of this order or when the supplemental record is received, whichever is earlier.
/s/ CRAIG STODDART
JUSTICE