Court Opinion

ID: 9377551
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-08 07:09:08.838303+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:14.878149
License: Public Domain

DISMISS and Opinion Filed February 28, 2023

                                    S  In The
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                               No. 05-23-00094-CV

         IN THE INTEREST OF Z.D.R.R. AND Z.U.C., CHILDREN

                   On Appeal from the County Court at Law
                           Kaufman County, Texas
                      Trial Court Cause No. 110045-CC

                        MEMORANDUM OPINION
                   Before Justices Reichek, Nowell, and Garcia
                           Opinion by Justice Reichek
      This is an accelerated appeal involving the termination of appellant’s

parental rights. In the notice of appeal, appellant states she is appealing the “Final

Custody Determination in the above referenced case to the County Court at Law in

and for Kaufman County on Thursday, January 12, 2023.” The record before this

Court does not contain a judgment signed on that date or any other date.

Accordingly, the Court questioned its jurisdiction over this appeal and directed

appellant to file a letter brief addressing our concern. We cautioned appellant that
failure to comply may result in dismissal of the appeal without further notice.

Counsel for appellant has informed the Court that she would not file a response.1

       Unless specifically authorized by statute, Texas appellate courts have

jurisdiction only to review final judgments. McFadin v. Broadway Coffeehouse,

LLC, 539 S.W.3d 278, 283 (Tex. 2018). A judgment is final for purposes of appeal

if it disposes of all pending parties and claims. Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39

S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001). Appellate deadlines run from the date the judgment

is signed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1. Without a signed judgment or other appealable

order, there is nothing for this Court to review and the appeal is premature. See In

Int. of X.M.P., No. 05-18-01416-CV, 2019 WL 180698, at *1–2 (Tex. App.—

Dallas Jan. 14, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.).

       Because the record before this Court does not contain a judgment and

nothing shows that the signing of a judgment is imminent, we dismiss the appeal

for want of jurisdiction without prejudice to filing a new notice of appeal after the

trial court signs a judgment. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a).

                                                      /Amanda L. Reichek/
                                                      AMANDA L. REICHEK
                                                      JUSTICE

230094F.P05

   1
     We note that appellant filed a pro se motion requesting an extension of time to submit the final
judgment. Appellant is represented by counsel and is not entitled to hybrid representation. See
Scheanette v. State, 144 S.W.3d 503, 505 n.2 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). Accordingly, the Court takes no
action on the motion.

                                                –2–
                                S
                          Court of Appeals
                   Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                               JUDGMENT

IN THE INTEREST OF Z.D.R.R.                On Appeal from the County Court at
AND Z.U.C., CHILDREN                       Law, Kaufman County, Texas
                                           Trial Court Cause No. 110045-CC.
No. 05-23-00094-CV                         Opinion delivered by Justice Reichek.
                                           Justices Nowell and Garcia
                                           participating.

    In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the appeal is
DISMISSED.

Judgment entered February 28, 2023

                                     –3–