in the Interest of B. S. C. F. AKA B. F. C. v. Department of Family and Protective Services

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON

ORDER ON MOTION

Appellate case name: In the Interest of B. S. C. F. aka B. F. C., A Child

Appellate case number: 01-18-00907-CV

Trial court case number: 2017-00823J

Trial court: 314th District Court of Harris County

This is an accelerated appeal from a judgment in a suit in which the termination of the parent-child relationship is at issue (“parental termination case”) for the father, F. C. On November 30, 2018, the deadline for appellant F. C.’s brief, F. C.’s counsel, Donald M. Crane, filed an unopposed motion for a second extension of time to file appellant’s brief, requesting a 6-day extension until December 6, 2018.

Appeals in parental termination cases are to be brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed, so far as reasonably possible. See TEX. ST. JUD. ADMIN. R. 6.2(a) (West 2017). Here, the notice of appeal was timely filed on October 8, 2018, in the trial court from the September 26, 2018 final decree for termination by appointed counsel for the father, F. C., setting the 180-day compliance deadline for April 5, 2019. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(b). Although appellant F. C.’s second motion is unopposed, the accelerated schedule in termination cases requires greater compliance with briefing deadlines and greater scrutiny of extensions. Appellant F. C.’s counsel contends that a second extension is needed because he needs additional time to finalize the brief and he has been busy preparing filings in four other termination appeals.

Accordingly, appellant F. C.’s motion for a second extension of time to file appellant’s brief is GRANTED until December 6, 2018, but no further extensions will be granted. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(d).

It is so ORDERED. Judge’s signature: ____/s/ Laura C. Higley_____ x Acting individually Acting for the Court Date: __December 4, 2018_____