in the Interest of I. M. v. a Child ( 2020 )

NUMBER 13-19-00591-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
IN THE INTEREST OF I.M.V., A CHILD
On appeal from the 267th District Court
of Victoria County, Texas.
ORDER TO FILE APPELLEE’S BRIEF
Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Longoria and Perkes
Order Per Curiam
This cause is before the Court on the Texas Department of Family and Protective
Services’ (Department) first motion for extension of time to file its brief. This Court,
having fully examined and considered the Department’s motion, is of the opinion that,
in the interest of justice, the Department’s first motion for extension of time to file its brief
should be granted 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. The 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.
The Department’s first motion for extension of time to file its brief is hereby
GRANTED, and the Department is hereby ORDERED to file its appellate brief with this
Court on or before 5:00 p.m. on January 15, 2020. 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.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
PER CURIAM
Delivered and filed the
3rd day of January, 2020.