Renee Hopwood v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Opinion

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-11-00492-CV

Renee Hopwood, Appellant

v.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BELL COUNTY, 146TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT NO. 245,862-B, HONORABLE RICK MORRIS, JUDGE PRESIDING

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Renee Hopwood filed this accelerated appeal from the district court’s “Decree of Termination and Order Appointing Managing Conservator” (order) terminating her parental rights to her minor children, K.L.R., M.A.D., M.R.E., and M.R.M.E.; granting her supervised visitation with her minor child D.D.H.-B.; and appointing D.D.H.-B.’s biological father as sole managing conservator.

Hopwood’s court-appointed attorney filed a brief concluding that the appeal is frivolous and without merit. The brief meets the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967) by presenting a professional evaluation of the record and demonstrating why there are no arguable grounds to be advanced on appeal. See also Taylor v. Texas Dep’t of Protective & Regulatory Servs., 160 S.W.3d 641, 646-47 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005, pet. denied) (applying Anders procedure in appeal from termination of parental rights). Counsel certified to this Court that he

2

provided Hopwood with a copy of the Anders brief and notice of her right to examine the appellate record and file a pro se brief. Hopwood did not file a pro se brief.

We have reviewed the record and counsel’s brief and agree that the appeal is frivolous and without merit. Finding nothing in the record that might arguably support an appeal, we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the district court’s order.

Jeff Rose, Justice

Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Pemberton and Rose Affirmed Filed: January 27, 2012