Court Opinion

ID: 9757919
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 23:04:41.586319+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:45.551209
License: Public Domain

SUE WALKER, Justice,
dissenting.
Because this court lacks authority to dismiss appellant’s appeal, I respectfully dissent.
Eastman’s attorney filed a joint motion to dismiss her appeal, but four days later Eastman filed a pro se motion to extend the time to file her brief stating, “I, appellant Rose Eastman was not aware that I would be giving up the right to not pursue my appeal.... [Ajppellant is respectfully pleading that I be given an extension to find other counsel to address the matter before the court.” It is therefore clear that Appellant Eastman is not in agreement with her counsel’s motion to dismiss her appeal. Thus, the appeal cannot be dismissed under the voluntary dismissal rule, rule 42.1. Tex.R.App. P. 42.1. Nor are any of the grounds for involuntary dismissal under rule 42.3 present in this case: want of jurisdiction, want of prosecution, or failure to comply with a requirement of the appellate rules, a court order, or a notice from our clerk. Tex.R.App. P. 42.3. Therefore, I cannot agree with the majority that the motion to dismiss filed by Eastman’s attorney, to which Eastman specifically objected, authorizes the dismissal of her appeal.