DISMISS; and Opinion Filed June 7, 2016.
S In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-16-00414-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF Q.H., A CHILD
On Appeal from the 302nd Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. DF-05-20442-U
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Lang-Miers, Evans, and Brown
Opinion by Justice Brown
Appellant appeals from the trial court’s December 11, 2013 judgment terminating her
parental rights. In a letter dated April 22, 2016, we questioned our jurisdiction over this appeal
because it appeared the notice of appeal was untimely. We instructed appellant to file a letter
brief by May 2, 2016 addressing our jurisdictional concern and cautioned her that failure to do so
may result in dismissal of the appeal without further notice. As of today’s date, appellant has not
filed a response.
Appeals in parental termination cases follow an accelerated timetable. See TEX. R. APP.
P. 28.4(a). In an accelerated appeal, the notice of appeal is due twenty days after the date the
judgment is signed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(b). Without a timely filed notice of appeal, this
Court lacks jurisdiction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.1(b).
The judgment was signed on December 11, 2013. Accordingly, the notice of appeal was
due December 31, 2013. Appellant filed the notice of appeal in the trial court on April 11, 2016,
more than two years past the deadline.
Because appellant did not file a timely notice of appeal, this Court lacks jurisdiction.
Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a).
/Ada Brown/
ADA BROWN
JUSTICE
160414F.P05
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S
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
IN THE INTEREST OF Q.H., A CHILD On Appeal from the 302nd Judicial District
Court, Dallas County, Texas.
No. 05-16-00414-CV Trial Court Cause No. DF-05-20442-U.
Opinion delivered by Justice Brown.
Justices Lang-Miers and Evans participating.
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the appeal is DISMISSED.
Judgment entered this 7th day of June, 2016.
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