Opinion
13-24-00486-CV
11-27-2024
IN THE INTEREST OF K.H., A CHILD
ON APPEAL FROM THE 329TH DISTRICT COURT OF WHARTON COUNTY, TEXAS.
Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Benavides and Silva Order Per Curiam
ORDER TO FILE APPELLANT'S BRIEF
PER CURIAM
This is an appeal of a final order terminating parental rights. The notice of appeal was filed on October 7, 2024. On November 12, 2024, the Clerk of the Court notified the appellant that the reporter's record had been filed and that the briefing schedule had begun. Appellant's brief was originally due on or before December 2, 2024. Appellant has filed an amended motion for extension of time, providing the reason for her request therein. Appellant seeks twenty days of additional time to file the appellate brief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6.
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 id. R. 28.4; TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a), reprinted in TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN., tit.2, subtit. F app. 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 disfavorably upon the delay caused by appellant's counsel's failure to timely file the appellate brief in this matter. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6; see also id. R. 28.4.
The Court, having fully examined and considered appellant's amended motion for extension of time to file the appellate brief and the appellate record, is of the opinion that, in the interest of justice, appellant's amended motion for extension of time to file the brief should be granted in part and denied in part by order.
We grant in part and deny in part appellant's amended motion for extension of time to file the appellate brief. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Honorable Jessica Jaramillo-Moreno, counsel for appellant, file the appellate brief with this Court on or before December 12, 2024. No further extensions of time will be granted absent truly exigent and extraordinary circumstances.