Opinion
Appellate case number: 01-17-00621-CV
10-05-2017
In the Interest of P.M.B. and M.A.B., Children
ORDER ON MOTION Trial court case number: 2013-03802J Trial court: 313th District Court of Harris County
This is an accelerated appeal from a judgment in a suit in which the termination of the parent-child relationship is at issue ("parental termination case"). On October 4, 2017, appellant's counsel, Donald M. Crane, filed a notice of appearance of appellate counsel and unopposed motion for a first extension of time to file the appellant's brief, requesting a 22-day extension until October 26, 2017.
Appeals in parental termination cases are to be brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed, so far as reasonably possible. See TEX. ST. JUD. ADMIN. R. 6.2(a) (West 2017). The notice of appeal in this case was timely filed on August 7, 2017, in the trial court from the July 20, 2017 final order modifying prior order and decree for termination, by appointed counsel for the mother, C.E.B., setting the 180-day compliance deadline for February 3, 2018. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(b). Although appellant's motion is unopposed, the accelerated schedule in termination cases requires greater compliance with briefing deadlines and greater scrutiny of extensions.
Appellant's counsel contends that an extension is needed because, among other reasons, he has been busy preparing briefs or petitions for review in eleven other parental termination cases. Counsel has listed that he has already requested extensions in several of these cases. See TEX. R. APP. P. 10.5(b)(1)(C), 38.6(d).
Accordingly, appellant's motion for an extension of time to file appellant's brief is GRANTED until October 26, 2017, but no further extensions will be granted absent extraordinary circumstances. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(d).
It is so ORDERED. Judge's signature: /s/ Laura Carter Higley
[×] Acting individually
Date: October 5, 2017