-
Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas September 20, 2019 No. 04-19-00434-CV IN THE INTEREST OF N.A.T, D.T., S. T., B.L.W., CHILDREN, From the 218th Judicial District Court, Atascosa County, Texas Trial Court No. 18-08-0730-CVA Honorable Bob Brendel, Judge Presiding ORDER Appellant appeals the trial court’s termination of her parental rights. Appellant’s court- appointed attorney has filed a brief and motion to withdraw pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738(1967), in which she asserts there are no meritorious issues to raise on appeal. We have held that in parental-termination appeals, a procedure akin to Anders is necessary to best protect the statutory right to counsel on appeal, to provide a procedural mechanism for counsel to fulfill her ethical obligations, to assist the court in deciding appeals, and to provide consistent procedures for all indigent litigants. See In re R.R., No. 04-03-00096-CV,
2003 WL 21157944, at *4 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, no pet.). In compliance with the procedure set out in Anders, appellant’s attorney has shown that she sent a letter to appellant, which explained her right to review the record and file a pro se brief. See Kelly v. State,
436 S.W.3d 313(Tex. Crim. App. 2014); In re R.R.,
2003 WL 21157944, at *4. In the letter to appellant, counsel stated that she had enclosed copies of the brief and motion to withdraw. See
Kelly, 436 S.W.3d at 313; In re R.R.,
2003 WL 21157944, at *4. Counsel’s letter also advised appellant that if she wished to review the appellate record, she must file a motion in this court. Counsel enclosed a form motion for this purpose. See
Kelly, 436 S.W.3d at 313; In re R.R.,
2003 WL 21157944, at *4. If appellant desires to obtain a copy of the appellate record, she must file a motion for pro se access to the appellate record in this court on or before September 30, 2019. If appellant desires to file a pro se brief, we ORDER that she do so on or before October 21, 2019. If appellant files a pro se brief, appellee may file a responsive brief no later than twenty days after the date appellant’s pro se brief is filed in this court. We ORDER the motion to withdraw, filed by appellant’s counsel, to be HELD IN ABEYANCE pending further order of the court. _________________________________ Irene Rios, Justice IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on this 20th day of September, 2019. ___________________________________ KEITH E. HOTTLE, Clerk of Court
Document Info
Docket Number: 04-19-00434-CV
Filed Date: 9/20/2019
Precedential Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 9/23/2019