Thien an Vo v. Harris County Commissioners Court

Opinion

Order entered July 23, 2021

In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

No. 05-21-00307-CV

THIEN AN VO, Appellant

V.

HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, Appellee

On Appeal from the 133rd District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2020-72816

ORDER

The reporter’s record in this appeal is currently due. By motion filed July

22, 2021, appellant requests we declare her indigent so that the court reporter

responsible for the record will file the record. Appellant notes she filed a statement

of inability to afford costs in the trial court and was allowed to proceed there

without payment of costs. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 145. She explains, however, that the

court reporter has nonetheless asked for an order showing she is indigent. Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145, a party who has filed a statement

of inability to afford costs cannot be required to pay costs unless ordered to do so.

See id. Because nothing before the Court reflects appellant has been ordered to

pay costs, we GRANT the motion to the extent we ORDER Darlene Stein,

Official Court Reporter for the 133rd Judicial District Court, to file the reporter’s

record without payment of costs. The record shall be filed no later than August 9,

2021.

We DIRECT the Clerk of the Court to send a copy of this order to Ms. Stein

and the parties.

/s/ KEN MOLBERG JUSTICE