Opinion
13-22-00253-CV
07-25-2022
IN THE INTEREST OF J.R., C.M.R.C., AND D.C., MINOR CHILDREN
On appeal from the 430th District Court of Hildalgo County, Texas.
Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Longoria and Tijerina
ORDER
PER CURIAM
This is an appeal of a final order terminating parental rights. On July 22, 2022, appellant filed a first motion of extension of time to file a brief. Appellant's brief was due on July 18, 2022. Appellant has requested a twenty-one-day extension to file a brief from the date of this motion.
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, we limit the request 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 his brief should be granted in part with order. The Court, however, requires strict adherence to the briefing rules in appeals of parental termination cases, such as this appeal, and looks with disfavor upon the delay caused by such extension requests. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.6; see also id. at R. 28.4.
The Court GRANTS in part appellant's first motion for extension of time. This motion is GRANTED insofar as the Court will extend appellant's deadline to file appellant's brief to August 1, 2022. The Court DENIES appellant's request for a twenty-one-day extension. Further motions for extension of time will not be favorably entertained by this Court, absent extraordinary circumstances.