in the Interest of P. M., a Child

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: March 14, 2019
• Docket: 13-19-00058-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

NUMBER 13-19-00058-CV

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG

IN THE INTEREST OF P.M., A CHILD

On appeal from the County Court at Law #5 of Nueces County, Texas.

ORDER TO FILE APPELLANT’S BRIEF Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Benavides and Longoria Order Per Curiam

This cause is before the Court on appellant P.M.’s first motion for extension of

time to file her brief. This Court, having fully examined and considered appellant’s

motion, is of the opinion that, in the interest of justice, appellant’s first motion for

extension of time to file her brief should be granted in part pursuant to this order.

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

rules of appellate procedure for accelerated appeals and include additional expedited

deadlines and procedures. See TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4; TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a), reprinted in TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN., tit.2, subtit. F app. (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d

C.S.). The appellant’s brief is due within 20 days after the later of the date the clerk’s

record was filed or the date the reporter's record was filed, and appellee's brief is due

20 days after the date the appellant's brief was filed. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(a), (b). The

intermediate appellate courts are directed to ensure "as far as reasonably possible" that

appeals are brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal

is filed. TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). In accordance with the limited time for consideration

of these appeals, this Court requires strict adherence to the briefing rules in appeals of

parental termination cases, such as this appeal, and looks with disfavor upon the delay

caused by requests for extensions of time to file the brief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6; see

also id. R. 28.4.

Appellant’s first motion for extension of time to file its brief is hereby GRANTED IN

PART, and appellant is hereby ORDERED to file its appellate brief with this Court on or

before 5:00 p.m. on March 25, 2019. Further motions for extension of time will not be

favorably entertained by this Court, absent truly extraordinary circumstances alleged and

supported by appropriate argument, authority, and any necessary evidence. The failure

to file the brief timely will result in abatement of the appeal for the appointment of new

counsel.

The Clerk of this Court is ORDERED to serve a copy of this order on appellant’s

counsel, the Honorable Sandra A. Eastwood, by email and by certified mail, return receipt

requested.

PER CURIAM

2 Delivered and filed the 14th day of March, 2019.