Opinion
NUMBER 13-19-00406-CV
11-13-2019
IN THE INTEREST OF A.E.J. AND V.N.J., MINOR CHILDREN
On Appellant's Second Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief.
ORDER
Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Hinojosa and Tijerina
Order Per Curiam
This is an appeal of a final order terminating parental rights. The brief of appellant E.J. was due to be filed on October 28, 2019. We granted an extension until November 12, 2019. Appellant has filed a second unopposed motion for extension of time seeking two days of additional time to file the brief.
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, it is the policy of this Court to limit extensions of time to file a brief in such cases to one ten-day extension of time absent truly extraordinary circumstances. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(d).
In the interest of justice and in light of the circumstances, we GRANT appellant's second unopposed motion for extension of time and ORDER appellant's brief to be filed on or before Thursday, November 14, 2019.
Further motions for extension of time by appellant's counsel will not be entertained. The failure to file the brief timely in accordance with this order may result in abatement of the appeal for the appointment of new counsel.
The Clerk of this Court is ORDERED to serve a copy of this order on appellant's counsel, the Honorable Pamela S. Alexander, by email and by certified mail, return receipt requested.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
PER CURIAM Delivered and filed the 13th day of November, 2019.