Opinion
13-24-00040-CV
02-23-2024
IN THE INTEREST OF E.G., A CHILD
On appeal from the County Court at Law of Aransas County, Texas.
Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Benavides and Tijerina
ORDER
PER CURIAM
This is an appeal of a final order terminating parental rights. The record was filed on February 2, 2024, and appellant's brief was due on February 22, 2024. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(a). Appellant J.G. has filed a motion for extension of time to file her brief. The motion represents that appellant has filed a request for findings of fact and conclusions of law with the trial court but that such findings and conclusions have not been filed as of the date of the motion. Additionally, appellant's counsel states that she underwent knee surgery on February 14, 2024. Appellant requests an extension of thirty days, until March 22, 2024.
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 appeals in such cases are brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed. See TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). Accordingly, it is the policy of this Court to limit extensions of time in such cases. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(d).
We GRANT IN PART appellant's motion for extension of time and ORDER appellant's brief to be filed on or before Friday, March 15, 2024. No further extensions of time will be granted absent truly exigent and extraordinary circumstances.