B. A. B. v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: January 10, 2020
• Docket: 03-19-00793-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-19-00793-CV

B. A. B., Appellant

v.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee

FROM THE 340TH DISTRICT COURT OF TOM GREEN COUNTY NO. C180096CPS, THE HONORABLE GARY L. BANKS, JUDGE PRESIDING

ORDER

PER CURIAM

Appellant B. A. B. filed his notice of appeal on November 1, 2019. The appellate

record was complete November 7, 2019, making appellant’s brief due on November 27, 2019.

On December 4, 2019, this Court ordered appellant’s counsel to file appellant’s brief no later

than December 17, 2019. On January 3, 2020, counsel for appellant filed a motion for extension

of time to file appellant’s brief, explaining that she needed more time due to the critical illness

and hospitalization of a close relative.

The rules of judicial administration accelerate the final disposition of appeals

from suits for termination of parental rights. See Tex. R. Jud. Admin. 6.2(a) (providing 180 days

for court’s final disposition). The accelerated schedule constrains this Court’s leeway in granting

extensions. In this instance, due to the extenuating circumstances presented here, we will grant counsel a second extension of time. We order counsel to file appellant’s brief no later than

January 16, 2020. If the brief is not filed by that date, counsel may be required to show cause

why she should not be held in contempt of court.

It is ordered on January 10, 2020.

Before Chief Justice Rose, Justices Baker and Triana