in the Interest of C. G., a Minor Child

NUMBER 13-15-00360-CV COURT OF APPEALS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG IN THE INTEREST OF C.G., A MINOR CHILD On appeal from the County Court at Law No. 5 of Nueces County, Texas. ORDER TO FILE APPELLANTS’ BRIEF Before Justices Garza, Benavides, and Longoria Order Per Curiam This cause is before the Court on appellant’s first motion for extension of time to file her brief. This Court, having fully examined and considered appellant’s motion, is of the opinion that, in the interest of justice, appellant’s first motion for extension of time to file her brief should be granted with this order. Appeals in parental termination and child protection cases are governed by the rules of appellate procedure for accelerated appeals and include additional expedited deadlines and procedures. See TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4; TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a), reprinted in TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN., tit.2, subtit. F app. (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). The appellant's brief is due within 20 days after the later of the date the clerk's record was filed or the date the reporter's record was filed, and appellee's brief is due 20 days after the date the appellant's brief was filed. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(a), (b). The intermediate appellate courts are directed to ensure "as far as reasonably possible" that appeals are brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed. TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). In accordance with the limited time for consideration of these appeals, this Court requires strict adherence to the briefing rules in appeals of parental termination cases, such as this appeal, and looks with disfavor upon the delay caused by requests for extensions of time to file the brief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6; see also id. R. 28.4. Accordingly, it is the policy of this Court to limit extensions of time to file a brief to one ten-day extension of time absent truly extraordinary circumstances. Id. R. 38.6(d). Appellant’s first motion for extension of time to file its brief is hereby GRANTED for the period of ten days, and appellant is hereby ORDERED to file its appellate brief with this Court on or before 5:00 p.m. on November 17, 2015. Further motions for extension of time will not be favorably entertained by this Court, absent truly extraordinary circumstances alleged and supported by appropriate argument, authority, and any necessary evidence. The failure to file the brief timely will result in abatement of the appeal for the appointment of new counsel. 2 The Clerk of this Court is ORDERED to serve a copy of this order on appellant’s counsel, the Honorable Timothy McCoy by email. PER CURIAM Delivered and filed the 3rd day of November, 2015. 3