Opinion
NUMBER 13-15-00114-CV
04-13-2015
IN THE INTEREST OF J.R., S.R., R.R., S.R., AND T.R., CHILDREN
On appeal from the County Court at Law No. 5 of Nueces County, Texas.
ORDER EXTENDING TIME TO FILE BRIEF
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Rodriguez and Longoria
Order Per Curiam
This cause is before the Court on S.M.R.'s first motion for extension of time to file his appellant's brief in this termination case. 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 with this order.
S.M.R. is the father of J.R., S.R., R.R., S.T., and T.R.
Appeals in parental termination and child protection cases are governed by the rules of appellate procedure for accelerated appeals and include additional expedited deadlines and procedures. See TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4; TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a), reprinted in TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN., tit.2, subtit. F app. (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). 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). In accordance with the limited time for consideration of these appeals, this Court 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 requests for extensions of time to file the brief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6; see also id. R. 28.4. Accordingly, it is the policy of this Court to limit extensions of time to file a brief to one ten-day extension of time absent truly extraordinary circumstances. Id. R. 38.6(d).
Appellant's first motion for extension of time to file its brief is hereby GRANTED, and appellant is hereby ORDERED to file his appellate brief with this Court on or before 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2015. Further motions for extension of time will not be favorably entertained by this Court, absent truly extraordinary circumstances alleged and supported by appropriate argument, authority, and any necessary evidence.
PER CURIAM Delivered and filed the 13th day of April, 2015.