Court Opinion

ID: 2899704
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-09 00:14:04.177882+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:54:40.985882
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-09-0004-CV

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                     AT AMARILLO

                                        PANEL B

                                  FEBRUARY 26, 2009

                         ______________________________

                  IN THE INTEREST OF T.A.M., J.A.M. AND S.M.M.,

                                                                    Children

                       _________________________________

             FROM THE 320TH DISTRICT COURT OF POTTER COUNTY;

               NO. 74,777-D; HON. RICHARD DAMBOLD, PRESIDING
                       _______________________________

                                Memorandum Opinion

                         _______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and HANCOCK, JJ.

      Joann McKinney appeals the denial of a motion for new trial wherein her parental

rights were terminated. We dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.

      On June 27, 2008, the trial court signed an order terminating McKinney’s parental

rights to T.A.M., J.A.M. and S.M.M. On July 24, 2008, McKinney filed a motion for new

trial, and a hearing on the motion was convened in August of 2008. Yet, because the trial

court determined that it needed to recuse itself, it recessed the proceeding. On October

7, 2008, a new judge was appointed to preside over the matter but did not act upon the
motion by written order. It was not until January 2, 2009, that McKinney filed her notice of

appeal. Her statement of points on appeal was filed on January 16, 2009.

       Given that termination of parental rights was involved, the appeal was accelerated.

TEX . FAM . CODE ANN . §109.002(a) (Vernon 2008). So, anyone seeking a new trial was

obligated to request one no later than the 15th day after the date the final order was signed,

i.e. July 11, 2008. Id. §263.405(b). Nonetheless, a motion for new trial, even if timely filed,

would not extend the deadline for filing a notice of appeal. Id. §263.405(c). Consequently,

McKinney’s notice of appeal was due to be filed on or before 20 days after the day the trial

court executed the termination order, i.e. on July 16, 2008. TEX . R. APP. P. 26.1(b).

Because it was not filed until January of 2009, we have no jurisdiction over the proceeding

and must dismiss it.

       The appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

                                                  Brian Quinn
                                                  Chief Justice

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