Court Opinion

ID: 2875261
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-06 05:59:24.198187+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:35:32.747492
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                      NO. 03-07-00718-CV

                                     Cliff Burke, Appellant

                                                 v.

               Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee

 FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, 395TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
      NO. 03-1101-F395, HONORABLE MICHAEL JERGINS, JUDGE PRESIDING

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION

               Appellant Cliff Burke, appearing pro se, is currently incarcerated in the Arizona

Department of Corrections. Burke has not made arrangements to pay for the clerk’s record, which

was due on December 27, 2007, nor has he paid the $175.00 fee for filing a notice of appeal. In

addition, Burke has not yet filed a docketing statement as required by Texas Rule of

Appellate Procedure 32.1.

               On March 10, 2008, Burke filed an affidavit of indigence in this Court. See Tex. R.

App. P. 20.1. Because the docketing statement and clerk’s record have not been filed, it is unclear

whether Burke filed in the trial court a statement of points on which he intends to appeal, a motion

for new trial, or an affidavit of indigence. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 263.405(b) (West Supp. 2007)

(governing appeals from termination orders). It is also unclear whether the trial court appointed an
attorney to represent Burke on appeal1 or held a hearing to determine whether Burke was indigent

or whether the appeal was frivolous. See id. § 263.405(d), (e).

               We abate this cause to the trial court for a hearing to determine whether Burke is

indigent, as well as other required determinations under the family code. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann.

§§ 107.013, 263.405 (West Supp. 2007).

               The trial court is ordered to forward a record of the hearing, including any findings

of fact and conclusions of law, to this Court within 30 days of the date of this order. If Burke is

entitled to and desires appointed counsel, the trial court shall make that appointment and inform his

attorney that the brief is due within such time as the trial court determines is appropriate for the

circumstances, but no later than 25 days after the trial court’s hearing.

                                               __________________________________________

                                               Diane Henson, Justice

Before Justices Patterson, Puryear and Henson

Abated

Filed: March 21, 2008

         1
           While the family code does not specifically require appointed appellate counsel for an
indigent parent, Texas courts have held that “the right to effective counsel extends to the appellate
level” in termination cases. In re K.K., 180 S.W.3d 681, 684 (Tex. App.—Waco 2005, no pet.).

                                                  2