TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-10-00767-CV
A. M., Appellant
v.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF HAYS COUNTY, 207TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. 2010-0384, HONORABLE CHARLES R. RAMSAY, JUDGE PRESIDING
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This accelerated appeal is from a section 263.405 order concerning the termination
of appellant’s parental rights with her child. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 263.405 (West 2008).
After conducting a section 263.405 hearing, the trial court found appellant’s appeal frivolous and
appointed an attorney on appeal of the section 263.405 order only. See id. § 263.405(e).
Appellant’s court-appointed counsel has filed a motion to withdraw and appoint
attorney and a motion for extension of time to file appellant’s brief. Appellant’s counsel seeks to
withdraw based upon factual representations that she made to the trial court at the final termination
hearing. Appellant’s counsel represents that the Texas Department of Family and Protective
Services does not oppose her motion to withdraw.
We construe her motion as a motion to abate the appeal for the trial court to consider
appellant’s motion to withdraw and to appoint a new appellate attorney. See id. Accordingly, we
abate this appeal for fifteen days and remand the cause to the district court of Hays County to
consider counsel’s motion to withdraw and appoint a new appellate attorney. All appellate deadlines
will be tolled during the period of abatement. Any orders resulting therefrom shall be filed with the
clerk of this Court no later than February 10, 2011.
__________________________________________
Melissa Goodwin, Justice
Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Henson and Goodwin
Abated
Filed: January 25, 2011
2
A. M. v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Combined Opinion