Opinion
NUMBER 13-19-00319-CV
08-13-2019
IN THE INTEREST OF F.L.B., A.C.B., J.G.B., E.B.M, CHILDREN
On appeal from the 267th Judicial District Court of Victoria County, Texas.
ORDER TO FILE APPELLANT'S BRIEF
Before Justices Benavides, Hinojosa, and Perkes
Order Per Curiam
This cause is before the Court on appellant's second motion for extension of time to file her brief on the merits. This Court, having fully examined and considered appellant's motion, is of the opinion that, in the interest of justice, appellant's second motion for extension of time to file her brief should be granted with this order.
Appeals in parental termination and child protection cases are governed by the rules of appellate procedure for accelerated appeals and include additional expedited deadlines and procedures. See TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4; TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a), reprinted in TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN., tit.2, subtit. F app. The appellant's brief is due within 20 days after the later of the date the clerk's record was filed or the date the reporter's record was filed, and appellee's brief is due 20 days after the date the appellant's brief was filed. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(a), (b). The intermediate appellate courts are directed to ensure "as far as reasonably possible" that 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). In accordance with the limited time for consideration of these appeals, this Court 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 requests for extensions of time to file the brief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6; see also id. R. 28.4.
Appellant's second motion for extension of time to file her brief is hereby GRANTED, and appellant is hereby ORDERED to file her appellate brief with this Court on August 20, 2019. No further motions for extension of time will be entertained by this Court, absent truly extraordinary circumstances alleged and supported by appropriate argument, authority, and any necessary evidence. The failure to file the brief timely will 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 Craig A. Langford, II by email and by certified mail, return receipt requested.
PER CURIAM Delivered and filed the 13th day of August, 2019.