in the Interest of J. S., a Child

Becker v. State

COURT OF APPEALS

EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

EL PASO, TEXAS


)

) No. 08-04-00078-CV

)

                                                                             )Appeal from

IN THE INTEREST OF:                                     ) 

) 388th District Court

J.S., a Child                                                        )

) of El Paso County, Texas

)

) (TC# 99CM6902)



MEMORANDUM OPINION



            This accelerated appeal is before the court on its own motion for determination of whether it should be dismissed for want of prosecution. Finding that the Appellant has failed to file a brief or a motion for extension of time, we dismiss the appeal.

            On May 13, 2004, the Court issued an opinion in which we held that Appellant, Alejandro Salazar, is required to file a brief. See In the Interest of J.S., No. 08-04-00078-CV, 2004 WL 1078157 (Tex.App.--El Paso May 13, 2004, no pet. h.). By a separate order entered that same date, we required Appellant to file within ten days a motion for extension of time in which to file his brief. We warned Appellant that if he did not file his motion by the due date, the appeal would be dismissed for want of prosecution. Appellant did not file the motion by the due date and we have not received any correspondence from counsel.

            This Court possesses the authority to dismiss an appeal for want of prosecution when appellant has failed to file his brief in the time prescribed, and gives no reasonable explanation for such failure. Tex.R.App.P. 38.8(a)(1); Elizondo v. City of San Antonio, 975 S.W.2d 61, 63 (Tex.App.--San Antonio 1998, no writ). An appeal may also be dismissed because the appellant has failed to comply with a requirement of the Rules of Appellate Procedure or a court order. See Tex.R.App.P. 42.3. Appellant has failed to file his brief and has failed to file a motion for extension of time in response to an order of this Court. We see no purpose that would be served by declining to dismiss this appeal at this stage of the proceedings. Pursuant to Rules 38.8(a)(1) and 42.3(c), we dismiss the appeal for want of prosecution.

 

July 29, 2004                                                              

                                                                                    ANN CRAWFORD McCLURE, Justice


Before Panel No. 2

Barajas, C.J., McClure, and Chew, JJ.