Opinion
13-24-00136-CV
06-03-2024
IN THE INTEREST OF J.F. AND J.F., CHILDREN
ON APPEAL FROM THE 430TH DISTRICT COURT OF HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS
Before Benavides, Longoria, and Silva Justices.
ORDER
PER CURIAM.
This appeal arises from the trial court's termination of father J.L.F.'s parental rights over J.F. and J.F., minor children. On May 30, 2024, appellee, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (the Department), filed its "Amended Motion for Extension of Time in Which to File Appellee's Brief" in this cause. Citing the need for additional time to adequately prepare its brief, the Department requested a twenty-day extension to file its brief on June 24, 2024, instead of on June 4, 2024, its original deadline.
We refer to appellant and the child by their initials in accordance with the rules of appellate procedure. See Tex. R. App. P. 9.8(b)(2).
We are bound by the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure in parental termination cases. 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 are brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed. Tex. R. Jud. Admin. 6.2(a). Because these appeals involve fundamental rights that necessitate expedited consideration, this Court requires strict adherence to the deadlines provided by the appellate rules and looks with disfavor upon the delays caused by requests for extensions of time.
In light of the foregoing, we hereby grant in part the Department's amended motion for extension of time to file its appellee brief. The Department's amended motion is granted insofar as the Court will extend the Department's deadline to file its appellee brief to June 13, 2024. The Court denies the Department's request for a twenty-day extension.
No further motions for extension of time will be considered absent exigent circumstances.