Opinion
13-24-00235-CV
06-07-2024
IN THE INTEREST OF J.H., J.H., and N.R.C., CHILDREN
ON APPEAL FROM THE 377TH DISTRICT COURT OF VICTORIA COUNTY, TEXAS
Before Contreras Chief Justice and Tijerina Justices.
ORDER
PER CURIAM.
This cause is before the Court on appellant H.C.'s first unopposed motion for extension of time to file the brief. The appellant's brief was due on June 6, 2024. Appellant has requested a twenty-day extension to file a brief.
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 these 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). Given the nature of these cases and the shortened appellate deadlines, it is the policy of this Court to limit extensions of time to file a brief in such cases to one ten-day extension of time absent truly extraordinary circumstances. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(d).
This Court, having fully examined and considered appellant's motion is of the opinion that, in the interest of justice, appellant's first motion for extension of time to file a brief should be granted in part with order. The Court GRANTS in part appellant's first motion for extension of time to file a brief insofar as the Court will extend appellant's deadline to file a brief for ten (10) days, and we deny in part appellant's motion insofar as appellant requests a twenty-day extension of time to file the brief. Appellant is ordered to file the brief by 5:00 p.m. on June 17, 2024. Further motions for extension of time will not be favorably entertained by this Court absent extraordinary circumstances.