Opinion
NO. 03-16-00302-CV
07-07-2016
M. W., Appellant, v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BELL COUNTY, 146TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. 270,956-B, HONORABLE JACK WELDON JONES, JUDGE PRESIDINGORDER
PER CURIAM
Appellant's court-appointed counsel has filed a motion to withdraw as attorney of record for appellant M.W. Counsel was appointed to represent appellants S.G. and M.W. in this matter. On April 13, 2016, the trial court rendered judgment terminating the parental rights of S.G. and M.W. S.G. and M.W. filed their notice of appeal on May 3, 2016. The reporter's record was filed on May, 12, 2016, and the clerk's record was filed on May 13, 2016. On June 20, 2016, S.G. filed a motion to dismiss her appeal, and Counsel filed a motion to abate the appeal. Counsel informed this Court that he had been unable to effectively communicate with M.W. to determine whether he wishes to prosecute the appeal and sought a thirty-day abatement to allow him time to communicate with M.W. This Court granted S.G.'s motion to dismiss, directed the clerk to restyle the caption of this appeal, denied Counsel's motion to abate, and granted M.W. an extension of time to file his brief until July 5, 2016.
On July 5, 2016, Counsel filed a motion to withdraw. Counsel informed this Court that he has been unable to effectively communicate with M.W. and that he has provided M.W. with a copy of his motion to withdraw at M.W.'s last known address. We deny the motion to withdraw and grant M.W. an extension of time to file his brief. We order M.W. to file his brief no later than July 18, 2016. If the brief is not filed by that date, Counsel may be required to show cause why he should not be held in contempt of the Court.
It is so ordered July 7, 2016 Before Chief Justice Rose, Justices Goodwin and Bourland