Court Opinion

ID: 2951648
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 21:51:58.40935+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:41:45.491770
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-10-00021-CV

Maria Fernandez, Appellant

v.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TOM GREEN COUNTY, 340TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. C-08-0263-CPS, HONORABLE JAY K. WEATHERBY, JUDGE PRESIDING

NO. 03-10-00022-CV

Maria Fernandez, Jose Manuel Ibarra and Robert Joseph Kunst, Appellants

v.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TOM GREEN COUNTY, 340TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. C-08-0264-CPS, HONORABLE JAY K. WEATHERBY, JUDGE PRESIDING

O R D E R

		After a bench trial, the trial court terminated Maria Fernandez, Jose Manuel Ibarra,
and Robert Joseph Kunst's parental rights to the minor children subject to these suits.  Thereafter,
the appellants each filed statements of points on appeal challenging the termination order on various
procedural and evidentiary-sufficiency grounds.  See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 263.405(b)(2) (West
2008).  Following a hearing, the trial court found that Fernandez and Kunst's appeals were frivolous
but that Ibarra's was not frivolous.  See id. § 263.405(d)(3).  Accordingly, only Ibarra was found to
be entitled to a free record on appeal.  See id.; Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 13.003 (West
2002).  Clerk's records in both causes and the reporter's record of the consolidated termination
hearing were filed in this Court on March 3, 2010.  The court reporter has informed this Court
that her record for the trial court cause number pertaining to Ibarra is a complete record for all
three appellants.
		Fernandez and Kunst now appeal the trial court's finding that their appeals were
frivolous.  On July 30, 2010, this Court's clerk's office notified their appointed counsel that briefing
on the frivolousness appeals was overdue and requested a response or status update no later than
August 9, 2010.  Briefs have still not been filed.  Although, in appropriate cases, this Court will
review a trial court's finding that an appeal is frivolous without briefing from the parties, we note
that in this case the issue to be resolved--whether Fernandez and Kunst are entitled to a free record
because their appeals were not frivolous--is moot in light of a complete record already having been
filed in this Court.  Therefore, we will dismiss as moot Fernandez and Kunst's appeals of the
frivolousness findings and order briefing on the merits of the termination order from all parties. 
Appellants' briefs will be due on or before October 12, 2010. (1)  If any appellant no longer wishes to
pursue an appeal of the final order of termination, he or she should file a motion to dismiss.
It is so ordered September 22, 2010.

  
						J. Woodfin Jones, Chief Justice
Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Puryear and Pemberton
1.   Fernandez and the Department, who are parties in both cases, may each consolidate their
briefing in Nos. 03-10-00021-CV and 03-10-00022-CV for purposes of appeal.