Opinion
14-21-00427-CV
11-18-2021
IN THE INTEREST OF C.U.D., S.L.D., A/K/A S.D., J.P.J.D., K.K.J.D., A.E.D., II, CHILDREN
On Appeal from the 308th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2018-37155
Panel Consists of Justices Wise, Jewell, and Poissant.
ORDER
PER CURIAM
This is an accelerated appeal from a judgment in a parental termination appeal. Appellant is represented by appointed counsel, Angela Ellis. In an order reinstating this appeal, this court directed appellant to file her brief by November 2, 2021. When appellant failed to file a brief by this deadline, the court ordered Angela Ellis to file appellant's brief no later than November 15, 2021, and further warned counsel that she may be required to show cause why she should not be held in contempt of court and that the court may require appointment of new counsel due to that failure to timely file appellant's brief. No brief has been filed.
Appeals in parental termination cases and child protection cases are to be brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed. See Tex. R. Jud. Admin. 6.2(a). This accelerated schedule requires compliance with briefing deadlines.
Accordingly, we order the judge of the 308th District Court to immediately conduct a hearing to determine (1) the reason for the failure to file a brief; (2) whether appellant desires to continue this appeal; and (3) if appellant desires to continue the appeal, a date certain when the brief will be filed. The judge shall appoint new appellate counsel for appellant if necessary. The judge shall see that a record of the hearing is made and order the court reporter to forward a record of the hearing to this court. The judge shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and order the clerk of the trial court to forward a supplemental clerk's record containing the findings and conclusions. The transcribed record of the hearing and the supplemental clerk's record shall be filed with the clerk of this court on or before December 2, 2021.