Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-19-00079-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF E.J.M.K., a Child
From the 224th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2018PA00825
Honorable Richard Garcia, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
Sitting: Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
Beth Watkins, Justice
Delivered and Filed: August 7, 2019
MOTION TO WITHDRAW DENIED; AFFIRMED
Appellant mother (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights
to her child, E.J.M.K. Mother’s court-appointed appellate counsel filed a motion to withdraw and
a brief containing a professional evaluation of the record, concluding there are no arguable grounds
for reversal of the termination order. The brief minimally satisfies the requirements of Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). See In re P.M., 520 S.W.3d 24, 27. n.10 (Tex. 2016) (recognizing
that Anders procedures apply in parental termination cases). Additionally, counsel represents that
he provided Mother with a copy of the brief and the motion to withdraw, advised Mother of her
right to review the record and file her own brief, and informed Mother how to obtain a copy of the
record, providing her with a form motion for access to the appellate record. We issued an order
04-19-00079-CV
setting a deadline for Mother to file a pro se brief. However, Mother did not request the appellate
record or file a pro se brief.
After reviewing the appellate record and appointed counsel’s brief, we conclude no
plausible grounds exist for reversal of the termination order. Accordingly, we affirm the trial
court’s termination order. Because appointed counsel has not asserted any ground for withdrawal
other than his conclusion that the appeal is frivolous, we deny the motion to withdraw. See id. at
27–28 (holding that counsel’s obligations in parental termination cases extend through exhaustion
or waiver of all appeals, including filing petition for review in Texas Supreme Court).
Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
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