Opinion
14-23-00974-CV
04-02-2024
IN THE INTEREST OF M.F.M., A CHILD, Appellant v. DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, Appellee
On Appeal from the 310th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2022-54474
Panel consists of Justices Jewell, Bourliot, and Poissant.
ORDER
PER CURIAM
This is an appeal from a judgment terminating the parental rights of appellant, "F.M.". Appellant has filed an affidavit of inability to pay costs and a request for appointment of counsel on appeal.
In Texas, there is a statutory right to counsel for indigent persons in parental termination cases. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 107.013(a)(1); see also In re M.S., 115 S.W.3d 534, 544 (Tex. 2003). If an indigent parent requests appointment of an attorney to appeal a judgment terminating his or her parental rights, the trial court must determine the issue of indigence. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 263.405(e). If the court finds the parent to be indigent, or the parent is presumed indigent, the court must appoint counsel to represent the parent on appeal. Id.; In re K.M., 98 S.W.3d 774, 776 (Tex. App. Fort Worth 2003, no pet.). Accordingly, we issue the following order.
We ORDER the judge of the 310th District Court to immediately conduct a hearing to determine whether appellant desires to prosecute this appeal, and, if so, whether appellant is indigent and, thus entitled to a free record and appointed counsel on appeal. The judge shall appoint an appellate counsel for appellant if necessary. The judge shall see that a record of the hearing is made, shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law, and shall order the trial clerk to forward a record of the hearing and a supplemental clerk's record containing the findings and conclusions. The transcribed record of the hearing, and supplemental clerk's record shall be filed with the clerk of this court on or before April 9, 2024.
This court's April 1, 2024, order directing counsel Leslie Brock Yates to file a brief is withdrawn.