Opinion
10-23-00386-CV
03-06-2024
IN THE INTEREST OF J.E.P., A CHILD
From the County Court at Law Hill County, Texas Trial Court No. CV597-22CCL
Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Johnson, and Justice Smith.
REINSTATEMENT ORDER
PER CURIAM
On February 15, 2024, this Court received a letter from appointed counsel Denton B. Lessman advising us that he has filed a motion in the trial court requesting permission to withdraw from representation of Appellant in this matter. On February 16, 2024, this appeal was abated so that the trial court could hold a hearing and make findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding counsel's request and assure that Appellant is receiving effective assistance of counsel. The trial court held a hearing and the clerk's record containing the trial court's findings of fact and conclusions of law has been filed with this Court.
The trial court found that Mr. Lessman is willing to complete work as the appellate counsel in this case and that Appellant appeared satisfied with counsel's representations to the trial court. Mr. Lessman requested the trial court to advise the Tenth Court of Appeals that he is requesting a time period of until April 1, 2024 to file the Appellant's brief.
Accordingly, this appeal is REINSTATED.
The Rules of Judicial Administration require this Court, as far as reasonably possible, to ensure that an appeal in a suit for termination of the parent-child relationship is brought to a final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed. See TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). The notice of appeal in this case was filed on November 28, 2023.
We ORDER that Appellant's brief is due on or before April 1, 2024.
The State's brief will then be due twenty days after Appellant's brief is filed.
Appeal reinstated
Order issued.