Opinion
14-22-00558-CV
08-16-2022
In the Interest of Z.R.A., a child
On Appeal from the County Court at Law Waller County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 18-07-25008
Panel Consists of Justices Jewell, Bourliot, and Zimmerer
ORDER
PER CURIAM
This is an accelerated appeal from a judgment in a parental-termination appeal. The notice of appeal was filed July 27, 2022. 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 court reporter informed this court that appellant had "not paid or made arrangement to pay for the record and is not appealing as an indigent." Appellant is proceeding without payment of costs, which includes the fees charged by the court reporter for the preparation of the appellate record. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 145(a).
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). 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 Sheila A. May, the official court reporter, to file the record in this appeal on or before August 25, 2022. If Sheila A. May does not timely file the record as ordered, the court may issue an order requiring her to appear at a hearing to show cause why the record has not been timely filed and why she should not be held in contempt of court for failing to file the record as ordered. Contempt of court is punishable by a fine and/or confinement in jail.