in the Interest of M.D.C., II Children

Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-20-00606-CV
In the Interest of M.D.C. and M.F.C., Children
From the 166th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2019-PA-00280
Honorable Peter A. Sakai, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Irene Rios, Justice
Sitting: Irene Rios, Justice
Beth Watkins, Justice
Liza A. Rodriguez, Justice
Delivered and Filed: May 26, 2021
AFFIRMED; MOTION TO WITHDRAW DENIED
This is an appeal from a judgment terminating appellant’s parental rights to two minor
children, M.D.C. and M.F.C. Appellant’s court-appointed appellate counsel has filed a motion to
withdraw and a brief discussing the applicable law and evaluating the entire record in this case.
Counsel concludes no non-frivolous grounds can be advanced to support reversal of the trial
court’s judgment. Counsel’s brief satisfies the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738(1967). See In re P.M., 520 S.W.3d 24, 27 (Tex. 2016) (noting Anders procedures apply in parental
termination cases); In re R.R., No. 04-03-00096-CV, 2003 WL 21157944, at *4 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio May 21, 2003, no pet.) (same). Counsel provided appellant a copy of his brief and advised
appellant of his right to review the record and file a pro se brief. We set deadlines for appellant to
04-20-00606-CV
request the record and file a pro se brief and advised him of these deadlines. Appellant did not
request the record or file a pro se brief.
After conducting an independent review of the entire record in this case, we conclude this
appeal is frivolous. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s termination judgment. However, we deny
counsel’s motion to withdraw. See In re P.M., 520 S.W.3d at 27 (noting that in parental termination
cases court-appointed counsel’s duty to his client generally extends “through the exhaustion of
appeals” “including the filing of a petition for review” in the Texas Supreme Court). If appellant
desires to pursue this matter in the Texas Supreme Court, counsel may fulfill his duty “by filing a
petition for review that satisfies the standards for an Anders brief.” See id. at 28 & n.14.
Irene Rios, Justice
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