Opinion
04-23-00600-CV
07-06-2023
IN THE INTEREST OF S.R.T., ET AL CHILDREN
From the 150th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2022-PA-00098 Honorable Mary Lou Alvarez, Judge Presiding
ORDER
PER CURIAM
This is an accelerated appeal arising out of a parental termination suit filed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. On June 20, 2023, appellant filed a notice of appeal seeking to appeal an order of termination entered on June 14, 2023. The clerk's record does not include a final order terminating appellant's parental rights; instead, it contains a set of judge's notes dated June 15, 2023, indicating it would terminate appellant's parental rights pursuant to grounds "d, e & o."
The Texas Family Code authorizes an appeal of a final order terminating a parent's rights to his or her child in accordance with "the procedures for accelerated appeals in civil cases under the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure." Tex. Fam. Code § 263.405(a); accord In re D.M.B., 467 S.W.3d 100, 102 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 2015, pet. denied). Generally, an appeal may be prosecuted only from a signed, final judgment. Ne. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Aldridge, 400 S.W.2d 893, 895 (Tex. 1966). In contrast to a signed, final judgment, a judge's handwritten notes are for the court's convenience and are not a final, appealable order or judgment. In re A.W., 384 S.W.3d 872, 873 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 2012, no pet.) ("[A] judge's notes are for his or her own convenience and form no part of the record.").
Because the clerk's record does not show a final order has been entered in the underlying case, we order appellant to show cause in writing by July 21, 2023 why this appeal should not be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. If appellant fails to satisfactorily respond within the time provided, the appeal will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a), (c). If a supplemental clerk's record is required to establish this court's jurisdiction, the appellant must ask the trial court clerk to prepare one and must notify the clerk of this court such a request was made. All deadlines in this matter are suspended until further order of the court.
It is so ORDERED.