Opinion
05-24-01303-CV
12-06-2024
IN THE INTEREST OF M.K.C. AND M.A.C., CHILDREN
On Appeal from the 330th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. DF-23-09060
ORDER
ROBERT D. BURNS, III CHIEF JUSTICE
Before the Court is appellee's unopposed motion "request[ing] an order: (1) sealing the clerk's record and reporter's record, and ordering that they be filed under seal; and (2) requiring the parties to submit the divorce decree at issue in paper format under seal as a joint appendix." It appears that the latter request is for briefing purposes, as the clerk's record must include a copy of the decree and the motion further states that appellee is not requesting to have the briefs sealed. See Tex. R. App. P. 34.5(a)(5) (requiring clerk's record include copy of judgment or appealed order), 38.1(k)(1)(A) (requiring appendix to appellant's brief include copy of judgment or appealed order), 38.2(a)(1)(C) (providing that appellee's brief must conform to requirements for appellant's brief except its appendix need not contain any item already included in appendix to appellant's brief).
We note a copy of the trial court's June 29, 2023 agreed order sealing "all documents bearing" the trial court's cause number has been filed in this Court. Accordingly, the appellate record will be filed under seal, and appellee's request to have the record filed under seal is DENIED as moot. As to appellee's request to have the appealed decree filed in paper format under seal as a joint appendix for briefing purposes, we GRANT the request TO THE EXTENT we SUSPEND the requirement that a copy of the trial court's judgment be included in a brief's appendix. See Tex. R. App. P. 2, 38.1(k)(1)(A), 38.2(a)(1)(C).