Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-13-00174-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF L.H., a child
From the 45th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2009-PA-00997
Honorable Dick Alcala, Judge Presiding
PER CURIAM
Sitting: Karen Angelini, Justice
Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Delivered and Filed: July 17, 2013
DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION
On March 6, 2013, appellant filed a notice of appeal stating that he intends to appeal the
final order of termination rendered on February 21, 2013, by Judge Dick Alcala. The clerk’s
record, however, does not contain a final order terminating appellant’s parental rights to his child,
L.H. There is a document called “Judge’s Notes,” dated February 19, 2013, on which the trial court
made the following handwritten notations:
Hearing held. Termination ordered of parental rights existing between children and
respondent parents. Found to be in children’s best interest.
A judge’s handwritten notes are for his or her own convenience and form no part of the record. In
re A.W., 384 S.W.3d 872, 873 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012, no pet.). Thus, the judge’s notes
contained in the clerk’s record do not constitute a final order. See In re A.W., 384 S.W.3d at 873-
04-13-00174-CV
74 (explaining that the handwritten “Associate Judge’s Report and Order” was distinguishable
from handwritten judge’s notes and thus constituted a final order of termination in that case).
Therefore, in an order dated June 13, 2013, we explained that this appeal appeared to be
interlocutory and questioned whether we had jurisdiction over it. We ordered appellant to show
cause why this appeal should not be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. Appellant has filed a
response, agreeing that because a final order has not yet been signed, we lack jurisdiction over this
appeal. We therefore dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
PER CURIAM
-2-
in the Interest of L.H., a Child
Combined Opinion