Opinion
13-24-00235-CV
07-12-2024
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 and Pena Justices.
ORDER
PER CURIAM
This cause is before the Court on appellee's (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services) first unopposed motion for extension of time to file the brief. The appellee's brief was due on July 11, 2024. Appellee (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services) 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 appellee's (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services) motion is of the opinion that, in the interest of justice, appellee's (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services) first motion for extension of time to file a brief should be granted in part with order. The Court GRANTS in part appellee's (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services) first motion for extension of time to file a brief insofar as the Court will extend appellee's (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services) deadline to file a brief for ten (10) days, and we deny in part appellee's (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services) motion insofar as appellee requests a twenty-day extension of time to file the brief. Appellee (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services) is ordered to file the brief by 5:00 p.m. on July 22, 2024. Further motions for extension of time will not be favorably entertained by this Court absent extraordinary circumstances.