in the Interest of A.A.Z., A.A.Z., and A.A.L., Children

Opinion

NUMBER 13-21-00161-CV

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG

IN THE INTEREST OF A.A.Z., A.A.Z., AND A.A.L., CHILDREN

On appeal from the 156th District Court of Live Oak County, Texas.

ORDER Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Benavides and Silva Order Per Curiam

This is an appeal of a final order terminating parental rights. The brief of appellant

A.G. was filed on July 6, 2021. The brief of appellee, the Texas Department of Family and

Protective Services, was due on July 26, 2021. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(b). Appellee has

filed a motion for extension of time seeking twenty additional days to file the brief.

Appeals in parental termination and child protection cases are governed by the

rules of appellate procedure for accelerated appeals, but include additional expedited

deadlines and procedures. See TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4; TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). The intermediate appellate courts are directed to ensure “as far as reasonably possible” that

appeals in such cases are brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the

notice of appeal is filed. See TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). Accordingly, it is the policy of this

Court to limit extensions of time in such cases. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(d).

We GRANT appellee’s motion for extension of time and ORDER appellee’s brief

to be filed on or before 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 16, 2021. No further extensions of

time will be granted absent truly extraordinary circumstances.

PER CURIAM

Delivered and filed on the 27th day of July, 2021.