Jamie Smith, in His Official Capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas v. Megan Lavoie, in Her Official Capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration

Court of Appeals of Texas

Jamie Smith, in His Official Capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas v. Megan Lavoie, in Her Official Capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided February 7, 2025·No. 15-25-00015-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED

15-25-00015-CV

FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 2/7/2025 12:47 PM

NO. 15-25-00015-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE _____ CLERK

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN 15th COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS

2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM

CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE

JAMIE SMITH, in his official capacity as Clerk District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas, Appellant

V.

MEGAN LAVOIE, in her official capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration, Appellee

On Appeal from the 455th Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas, Cause No. D-1-GN-24-005976

APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE NOTICE OF APPEAL

Kathleen M. Kennedy Chief Civil Attorney State Bar No. 00798314 Kathleen.Kennedy@jeffcotx.us Quentin D. Price Assistant District Attorney State Bar No. 16303740 Quentin.Price@jeffcotx.us Jefferson County Criminal District Attorney’s Office 1085 Pearl St., 3rd Floor Beaumont, Texas 77701 (409) 835-8550- Telephone

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT JAMIE SMITH

TO THE HONORABLE COURT:

COMES NOW, APPELLANT, JAMIE SMITH, in his official capacity as

District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas, in the above-entitled and numbered

cause, and makes this Motion for Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal and

would respectfully show the following:

INTRODUCTION

1. Appellant is Jamie Smith, in his official capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas; Appellee is Megan Lavoie, in her official capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration; and Interested Party is Courthouse News Service. Appellee and Interested Party indicated that they are opposed to this Motion. See, Tex.R.App.P. 10.3

ARGUMENT & AUTHORITIES

2. The Court has the authority under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure, Rule 26.3, to extend Appellant’s time to file a Notice of Appeal.

3. The deadline to file this motion for extension of time is 15 days after the deadline for filing the notice of appeal. See Tex.R.App.P. 10.5(b)(1)(A) and 26.3. The deadline for Appellant to file his notice of appeal was January 30, 2025, which sets the deadline for filing this Motion as February 14, 2025. Accordingly, this Motion to Extend the Deadline to file a notice of appeal is timely.

4. Identity of the trial court: 455th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas.

5. The case number and style of the case in the trial court: 455th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas; Jamie Smith, in his official capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas v. Megan Lavoie, in her official capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration; Cause No. D- 1-GN-24-005976.

6. The date of the trial court’s judgment or appealable order: November 1, 2024, the trial court granted Defendant Director Lavoie’s Motion to Dismiss

Plaintiff’s Original Petition for Declaratory Judgment. On November 22, 2024, Appellant file his Motion for New Trial with the trial court. Appellant’s Notice of Appeal was due by January 30, 2025, which is 90 days after the trial court entered its Order Dismissing Plaintiff’s Petition for Declaratory Judgment. See Tex.R.App.P. 26.1(a)(1). Appellant filed his Notice of Appeal with the trial court on February 4, 2025, appealing to the Third Court of Appeals. On February 6, 2025, Appellant filed his Amended Notice of Appeal with the trial court appealing to the Fifteenth Court of Appeals, which establishes compliance with Rule 26.3(a). See Tex.R.App.P. 26.3(a).

7. Facts relied on to reasonably explain the need for an extension: Appellant’s counsel, Quentin D. Price, miscalculated the deadline for filing Appellant’s Notice of Appeal. Specifically, I looked at Rule 329b of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and incorrectly determined that the deadline to file an appeal was 105 days after the trial court entered the Order Dismissing Appellant’s case in the trial court, which is the date the trial court loses plenary power. I incorrectly conflated the trial court’s loss of plenary power and the deadline for filing an appeal. The trial court’s loss of plenary power and the deadline for filing the notice of appeal are the same in cases where there is the 30-day deadline from the date the judgment is signed for filing the notice of appeal. See Tex.R.App.P. 26.3(a). Such is not the case when the deadline to file an appeal is 90-days rather than 30-days. The failure to timely file an appeal in this matter was simply a mistake on my part and not intentional.

CONCLUSION

8. Appellant, Jamie Smith, in his official capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas, is requesting that this Court extend his deadline to file his Notice of Appeal to February 6, 2025, which is the date he filed his Amended Notice of Appeal in the trial court.

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant prays that the Court

grant this Motion for Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal.

Respectfully submitted

JEFFERSON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

By: /s/ Quentin D. Price Quentin D. Price Assistant District Attorney 1085 Pearl St., 3rd Floor Beaumont, Texas 77701 (409) 835-8550 Texas Bar# 16303740 Quentin.Price@jeffcotx.us

By: /s/ Kathleen M. Kennedy Kathleen M. Kennedy Chief Civil Attorney 1085 Pearl St., 3rd Floor Beaumont, Texas 77701 (409) 835-8550 Texas Bar# 00798314 Kathleen.Kennedy@jeffcotx.us

Certificate of Service

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document has been forwarded to all known counsel of record by E-FILE on this 7th day of February, 2025.

/s/ Quentin D. Price QUENTIN D. PRICE

Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system. The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Sandra Mott on behalf of Quentin Price Bar No. 16303740 sandra.mott@jeffcotx.us Envelope ID: 97119556 Filing Code Description: Motion Filing Description: Motion for Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal Status as of 2/7/2025 12:56 PM CST

Case Contacts

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Quentin D.Price Quentin.Price@jeffcotx.us 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

Sandra Mott Sandra.Mott@jeffcotx.us 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

William Farrell biff.farrell@oag.texas.gov 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

Matthew Dow mdow@jw.com 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

Nicole Myette nicole.myette@oag.texas.gov 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

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ACCEPTED

15-25-00015-CV

FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 2/7/2025 12:47 PM

NO. 15-25-00015-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE _____ CLERK

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN 15th COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS

2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM

CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE

JAMIE SMITH, in his official capacity as Clerk District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas, Appellant

V.

MEGAN LAVOIE, in her official capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration, Appellee

On Appeal from the 455th Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas, Cause No. D-1-GN-24-005976

APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE NOTICE OF APPEAL

Kathleen M. Kennedy Chief Civil Attorney State Bar No. 00798314 Kathleen.Kennedy@jeffcotx.us Quentin D. Price Assistant District Attorney State Bar No. 16303740 Quentin.Price@jeffcotx.us Jefferson County Criminal District Attorney’s Office 1085 Pearl St., 3rd Floor Beaumont, Texas 77701 (409) 835-8550- Telephone

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT JAMIE SMITH

TO THE HONORABLE COURT:

COMES NOW, APPELLANT, JAMIE SMITH, in his official capacity as

District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas, in the above-entitled and numbered

cause, and makes this Motion for Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal and

would respectfully show the following:

INTRODUCTION

1. Appellant is Jamie Smith, in his official capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas; Appellee is Megan Lavoie, in her official capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration; and Interested Party is Courthouse News Service. Appellee and Interested Party indicated that they are opposed to this Motion. See, Tex.R.App.P. 10.3

ARGUMENT & AUTHORITIES

2. The Court has the authority under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure, Rule 26.3, to extend Appellant’s time to file a Notice of Appeal.

3. The deadline to file this motion for extension of time is 15 days after the deadline for filing the notice of appeal. See Tex.R.App.P. 10.5(b)(1)(A) and 26.3. The deadline for Appellant to file his notice of appeal was January 30, 2025, which sets the deadline for filing this Motion as February 14, 2025. Accordingly, this Motion to Extend the Deadline to file a notice of appeal is timely.

4. Identity of the trial court: 455th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas.

5. The case number and style of the case in the trial court: 455th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas; Jamie Smith, in his official capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas v. Megan Lavoie, in her official capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration; Cause No. D- 1-GN-24-005976.

6. The date of the trial court’s judgment or appealable order: November 1, 2024, the trial court granted Defendant Director Lavoie’s Motion to Dismiss

Plaintiff’s Original Petition for Declaratory Judgment. On November 22, 2024, Appellant file his Motion for New Trial with the trial court. Appellant’s Notice of Appeal was due by January 30, 2025, which is 90 days after the trial court entered its Order Dismissing Plaintiff’s Petition for Declaratory Judgment. See Tex.R.App.P. 26.1(a)(1). Appellant filed his Notice of Appeal with the trial court on February 4, 2025, appealing to the Third Court of Appeals. On February 6, 2025, Appellant filed his Amended Notice of Appeal with the trial court appealing to the Fifteenth Court of Appeals, which establishes compliance with Rule 26.3(a). See Tex.R.App.P. 26.3(a).

7. Facts relied on to reasonably explain the need for an extension: Appellant’s counsel, Quentin D. Price, miscalculated the deadline for filing Appellant’s Notice of Appeal. Specifically, I looked at Rule 329b of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and incorrectly determined that the deadline to file an appeal was 105 days after the trial court entered the Order Dismissing Appellant’s case in the trial court, which is the date the trial court loses plenary power. I incorrectly conflated the trial court’s loss of plenary power and the deadline for filing an appeal. The trial court’s loss of plenary power and the deadline for filing the notice of appeal are the same in cases where there is the 30-day deadline from the date the judgment is signed for filing the notice of appeal. See Tex.R.App.P. 26.3(a). Such is not the case when the deadline to file an appeal is 90-days rather than 30-days. The failure to timely file an appeal in this matter was simply a mistake on my part and not intentional.

CONCLUSION

8. Appellant, Jamie Smith, in his official capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas, is requesting that this Court extend his deadline to file his Notice of Appeal to February 6, 2025, which is the date he filed his Amended Notice of Appeal in the trial court.

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant prays that the Court

grant this Motion for Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal.

Respectfully submitted

JEFFERSON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

By: /s/ Quentin D. Price Quentin D. Price Assistant District Attorney 1085 Pearl St., 3rd Floor Beaumont, Texas 77701 (409) 835-8550 Texas Bar# 16303740 Quentin.Price@jeffcotx.us

By: /s/ Kathleen M. Kennedy Kathleen M. Kennedy Chief Civil Attorney 1085 Pearl St., 3rd Floor Beaumont, Texas 77701 (409) 835-8550 Texas Bar# 00798314 Kathleen.Kennedy@jeffcotx.us

Certificate of Service

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document has been forwarded to all known counsel of record by E-FILE on this 7th day of February, 2025.

/s/ Quentin D. Price QUENTIN D. PRICE

Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system. The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Sandra Mott on behalf of Quentin Price Bar No. 16303740 sandra.mott@jeffcotx.us Envelope ID: 97119556 Filing Code Description: Motion Filing Description: Motion for Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal Status as of 2/7/2025 12:56 PM CST

Case Contacts

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Quentin D.Price Quentin.Price@jeffcotx.us 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

Sandra Mott Sandra.Mott@jeffcotx.us 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

William Farrell biff.farrell@oag.texas.gov 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

Matthew Dow mdow@jw.com 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

Nicole Myette nicole.myette@oag.texas.gov 2/7/2025 12:47:15 PM SENT

Jamie Smith, in His Official Capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas v. Megan Lavoie, in Her Official Capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration, (Tex. Ct. App. 2025).

Pincite

Jamie Smith, in His Official Capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas v. Megan Lavoie, in Her Official Capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration (Jamie Smith, in His Official Capacity as District Clerk of Jefferson County, Texas v. Megan Lavoie, in Her Official Capacity as Administrative Director Texas Office of Court Administration) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.