Opinion
NO. 14-14-00215-CV
03-24-2014
IN THE INTEREST OF S.L.M. AND A.D.M., CHILDREN
On Appeal from the 306th District Court
Galveston County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 13-CP-0012
ORDER
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"). The notice of appeal was filed March 10, 2014. Appellant has established indigence or is presumed to be indigent. See Tex. R. App. P. 20.1(a). The reporter's record was due within 10 days after the notice of appeal was filed. See Tex. R. App. P. 35.1(b); 28.4(a)(1). The record has not been filed.
Appeals in parental termination cases and child protection cases are to be brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed. See Tex. R. Jud. Admin. 6.2(a) (effective May 1, 2012). The trial and appellate courts are jointly responsible for ensuring that the appellate record is timely filed. See Tex. R. App. P. 35.3(c). The trial court must direct the court reporter to immediately commence the preparation of the reporter's record and must arrange for a substitute reporter, if necessary. See Tex. R. App. P. 28.4(b)(1).
Because the reporter's record has not been filed timely in this accelerated appeal, we issue the following order:
We order Ronald F. Vella, the official court reporter, to file the record in this appeal on or before April 3, 2014. If Ronald F. Vella does not timely file the record as ordered, the court will issue an order requiring the trial court to hold a hearing to determine why the record has not been filed.