Court Opinion

ID: 4317642
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-03 07:38:01.058522+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:27.478881
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
                           FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON

                             ORDER OF CONTINUING ABATEMENT

Appellate case name:        In the Interest of T.C., a Child; and
                            In the Interest of T.L.C., a Child

Appellate case number:      01-17-00497-CV, and
                            01-17-00498-CV

Trial court case number:    2014-71072, and
                            2011-08360

Trial court:                309th District Court of Harris County, or
                            246th District Court of Harris County

        Appellant, C.C., filed a notice of appeal of the trial court’s order terminating her
parental rights to her minor child, T.C., and a notice of appeal of the trial court’s order
awarding father sole managing conservatorship and appellant possessory conservatorship
of their minor child, T.L.C. On August 30, 2018, we affirmed the trial court’s orders. See
In re T.LC., No. 01-17-00498-CV, 2018 WL 4139004 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
Aug. 30, 2018, no pet. h.) (mem. op.); In re T.C., No. 01-17-00497-CV, 2018 WL 4126600
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 30, 2018, no pet. h.) (mem. op.). Appellant and her
court-appointed counsel, William Thursland, then filed an unopposed motion to abate the
appeals to allow the trial court to determine whether he may withdraw as counsel for
appellant and she may proceed pro se.

        Appellant’s right to counsel in these proceedings continues through all proceedings
in the Supreme Court of Texas. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 107.013(a)(1), 107.016(3)
(Vernon Supp. 2017); In re P.M., 520 S.W.3d 24, 27 (Tex. 2016). Once appointed by the
trial court, counsel should be permitted to withdraw only for good cause and on appropriate
terms and conditions. In re P.M., 520 S.W.3d at 27. And, if a trial court permits a parent
to proceed pro se, “the trial court must inform the parent of the dangers of
self-representation.” In re R.H., No. 01-14-00874-CV, 2015 WL 4594557, at *7 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 28, 2015, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing In re C.L.S., 403
S.W.3d 15, 19–22 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, pet. denied)).
       On September 13, 2018, we granted appellant’s unopposed motion to abate the
appeals and remanded the cases to the trial court. We directed the trial court to
immediately hold a hearing to determine whether appellant’s appointed counsel should be
permitted to withdraw. We further directed the trial court that, if counsel was permitted to
withdraw, to determine whether appellant may proceed pro se, after advising her of the
dangers of self-representation, or to appoint new counsel to represent appellant in further
proceedings. The trial court was to have a court reporter, or court recorder, record the
hearing.

       On September 27, 2018, we received from the trial court clerk supplemental clerk’s
records, containing a voluntary recusal orders, in which the trial court “recuse[d] its self
from further participation in th[e] case[s]” and requested “the Presiding Judge of the
Eleventh Administrative Region [to] assign a judge to preside over th[e] case[s].”

       Accordingly, we direct the trial court, or the judge assigned to preside over the cases,
to immediately hold a hearing, at which appellant, her appointed counsel, William
Thursland, counsel for appellee, Department of Family and Protective Services, and
attorney ad litem for the children, Samantha Davis, are present, to determine whether
appellant’s appointed counsel should be permitted to withdraw. If counsel is permitted to
withdraw, the trial court, or the judge assigned, shall determine whether appellant may
proceed pro se, after advising her of the dangers of self-representation, or shall appoint new
counsel to represent appellant in further proceedings. The trial court, or the judge assigned,
shall have a court reporter, or court recorder, record the hearing.

       The trial court clerk shall file supplemental clerk’s records containing any written
findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding these issues, and orders permitting
appointed counsel to withdraw, appointing new counsel, or allowing appellant to proceed
pro se. And, the court reporter shall file reporter’s records of the hearing. These records
shall be filed with the Clerk of this Court no later than 7 days from the date of this order.

       It is so ORDERED.

Judge’s signature: /s/ Terry Jennings
                    Acting for the Court

Panel consists of Justices Jennings, Keyes, and Higley

Date: October 2, 2018