Court Opinion

ID: 9367197
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-31 13:08:43.172488+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:58.503245
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                    San Antonio, Texas
                                MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                       No. 04-22-00814-CV

                             IN THE INTEREST OF A.A.A., a Child

                     From the 341st Judicial District Court, Webb County, Texas
                               Trial Court No. 2020-FLD-001240-D3
                          Honorable Selina Nava Mireles, Judge Presiding

PER CURIAM

Sitting:         Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
                 Beth Watkins, Justice
                 Liza A. Rodriguez, Justice

Delivered and Filed: January 25, 2023

DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION

           On December 5, 2022, appellant A.K.T. filed a notice of appeal challenging an order

terminating her parental rights. The clerk’s record shows the trial court signed the order of

termination on May 6, 2022. An appeal from an order terminating a parent-child relationship is

governed by the rules of appellate procedure for accelerated appeals. TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4(a); see

also TEX. FAM. CODE §109.002(a-1). In an accelerated appeal, the notice of appeal must be filed

within twenty days after the judgment or order being appealed is signed, and a party cannot extend

this deadline by filing a post-judgment motion. TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(b); In re K.A.F., 160 S.W.3d

923, 928 (Tex. 2005); In re L.R.S., No. 04-20-00507-CV, 2020 WL 7365444, at *1 (Tex. App.—

San Antonio Dec. 16, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing In re G.S., No. 04-17-00237-CV, 2017 WL

2457052, at *1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio June 7, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.)). As a result, A.K.T.’s
                                                                                      04-22-00814-CV

notice of appeal was due by May 26, 2022, or her notice of appeal and motion for extension of

time to file the notice of appeal was due fifteen days later. TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1, 26.3; K.A.F., 160

S.W.3d at 928; L.R.S., 2020 WL 7365444, at *1; G.S., 2017 WL 2457052, at *1.

       Because A.K.T. did not file her notice of appeal until December 5, 2022, it appeared late.

We therefore ordered A.K.T. to show cause in writing, by January 5, 2022, why this appeal should

not be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. A.K.T. responded to our order, and counsel maintained

he had not been hired until October 12, 2022. Counsel further explained he filed a post-judgment

motion on December 2, 2022, and the trial court advised him the motion could not be heard because

its plenary power had expired and recommended he file a notice of appeal.

       A.K.T.’s explanation is insufficient to establish this court’s jurisdiction. “A timely notice

appeal is necessary to invoke this court’s jurisdiction.” L.R.S., 2020 WL 7365444, at *1 (citing In

re S.A.M.W., No. 04-16-00425-CV, 2016 WL 3944816, at *1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 20,

2016, no pet.) (mem. op.)). Accordingly, because the notice of appeal was untimely filed, we have

no choice but to dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction. K.A.F., 160 S.W.3d at 928 (affirming

court of appeals dismissing parental termination for lack of jurisdiction when notice of appeal was

untimely filed); L.R.S., 2020 WL 7365444, at *1 (dismissing parental termination for lack of

jurisdiction after notice of appeal was filed almost three months after order of termination was

signed); G.S., 2017 WL 2457052, at *1 (dismissing parental termination after notice of appeal was

filed forty-four days after order of termination was signed). We further deny all pending motions,

including notifications of late record, as moot.

                                                    PER CURIAM

                                                   -2-