Tex. R. App. P. 28.4

As amended through November 19, 2024

Rule 28.4 - Accelerated Appeals in Parental Termination and Child Protection Cases and From Orders Certifying a Child to Stand Trial as an Adult

(a)Application and Definitions.

(1) Appeals in parental termination and child protection cases and from an order certifying a child to stand trial as an adult are governed by the rules of appellate procedure for accelerated appeals, except as otherwise provided in Rule 28.4.

(2) In Rule 28.4:

(A) a "parental termination case" means a suit in which termination of the parent-child relationship is at issue.

(B) a "child protection case" means a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity for managing conservatorship.

(C) an "order certifying a child to stand trial as an adult" is an order under Family Code section 54.02 waiving juvenile court jurisdiction and transferring a child for prosecution in a district or criminal district court.

(b)Appellate Record.

(1) Responsibility for Preparation of the Reporter's Record. In addition to the responsibility imposed on the trial court in Rule 35.3(c), when the reporter's responsibility to prepare, certify and timely file the reporter's record arises under Rule 35.3(b), the trial court must direct the official or deputy reporter to immediately commence the preparation of the reporter's record. The trial court must arrange for a substitute reporter, if necessary.

(2) Extension of Time. The appellate court may grant an extension of time to file a record under Rule 35.3(c); however, the extension or extensions granted must not exceed 30 days cumulatively, absent extraordinary circumstanced.

(3) Restriction on Preparation Inapplicable. Section 13.003 of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code does not apply to an appeal from a parental termination or child protection case or an order certifying a child to stand trial as an adult.

(c)Remand for New Trial. If the judgment of the appellate court reverses and remands a parental termination or child protection case for a new trial, the judgment must instruct the trial court to commence the new trial no later than 180 days after the mandate is issued by the appellate court.

Tex. R. App. P. 28.4

Amended November 30, 2022, effective 6/1/2023; amended May 30, 2023, effective 6/1/2023.

Comment to 2023 change: Rule 28.4 is amended to implement Texas Family Code section 56.01(h-1).

Notes and Comments

Comment to 2011 Change: Section 51.014(d)-(f) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended in 2011, provides for appeals of orders not otherwise appealable when permitted by the trial court. The 2011 amendments, which explicitly apply only to cases commenced on or after September 1, 2011, eliminated the prior requirement that the parties agree to the appeal and reinstated a requirement that the court of appeals also permit the appeal. Act of May 25, 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., ch. 203, §§ 3.01, 6.01 [HB274], amending Act of May 27, 2005, 79th Leg., R.S., ch. 1051 [HB1294], §§ 1-2, 2005 Tex. Gen. Laws 3512, 3512-3513 and Act of May 17, 2001, 77th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1389 [HB978], § 1.2001 Tex. Gen. Laws 3575. The amendments necessitated the addition of Rule 28.3 and the adoption of Rule of Civil Procedure 168, which governs the procedure for obtaining permission to appeal from the trial court.

New Rule 283 applies only to appeals in cases that were filed in the trial court on or after September 1, 2011. Rule 28.2 applies only to appeals in cases that were filed in the trial court before September 1, 2011.

Rule of Civil Procedure 168 clarifies that the trial court's permission to appeal should be included in the order to be appealed rather than in a separate order. As stated in Rule 28.3(c), if a prior order containing the trial court's ruling is amended to include such permission, the time for appeal runs from the amended order. Rule 28.3(k) further clarifies that if the petition is granted, appeal is thereby perfected, and the appeal proceeds as an accelerated appeal, with all deadlines -including deadlines and obligations for preparing the record - running from the date the petition was granted. A separate notice of appeal need not be filed. The petition procedure in Rule 28.3 is intended to be similar to the Rule 53 procedure governing petitions for review in the Supreme Court.