Court Opinion

ID: 4110443
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-22 20:16:16.496766+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:32.761763
License: Public Domain

IN THE
                          TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

                                 No. 10-16-00347-CV

        IN THE INTEREST OF K.W., D.W. AND K.W., CHILDREN

                            From the 77th District Court
                             Limestone County, Texas
                             Trial Court No. CPS-275-A

                             ABATEMENT ORDER

       The reporter's record in this appeal was originally due on October 31, 2016. On

November 21, 2016, the court reporter, Jonette C. Jackson, requested a 10-day extension

until December 1, 2016 to file the record. The Court granted the requested extension, but

the reporter's record was not timely filed. On December 5, 2016, Jackson requested a

second extension of time until December 15, 2016 to prepare and file the reporter's record.

Although the Court has not ruled on that request, the reporter's record was not filed by

the date requested by Jackson.

       It is the joint responsibility of this Court and the trial court to ensure that the

appellate record is timely filed. TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4(b), 35.3(c). Further, this Court may
enter any order necessary to ensure the timely filing of the appellate record. Id. 35.3(c).

Because appeals in parental termination cases are accelerated appeals with extremely

short deadlines promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas, see TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4; TEX.

R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a), reprinted in TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN., tit. 2, subtit. F app. (West 2013),

we cannot delay in ensuring that the appellate record is timely filed.

        This appeal is abated to the trial court which is ORDERED to hold a hearing as

soon as practicable, but not later than 7 days after the date of this Order to determine:

        (1) The reasons why the reporter's record is late; and

        (2) A date certain when the reporter's record can reasonably be transcribed
        into written form and filed in a manner that does not further delay the
        prosecution of this appeal or have the practical effect of depriving
        appellants of their right to appeal.

        The trial court must order Jonette C. Jackson to file the record by the date

determined. Further, the trial court must inform Jackson of the consequences of failing

to file the record by the date determined and ordered. Those consequences include:

        (1) abating the proceeding again to the trial court for a contempt of court
        hearing;

        (2) imposing a lump sum monetary fine;

        (3) imposing a daily fine for each day the record is late beyond the date
        previously determined by the trial court; and

        (4) confinement in jail until the record is completed.

        The trial court shall require the hearing to be transcribed by a reporter other than

Jackson. To the extent necessary or pertinent to obtaining compliance with the rules
In the Interest of K.W., D.W. and K.W., Children                                       Page 2
regarding preparation of the reporter's record, the trial court must: (1) prepare findings

of fact and conclusions of law addressing the above issues; (2) require the preparation of

a supplemental clerk's record containing its findings of fact and conclusions of law and

all orders it may issue as a result of its hearing in the matter; and (3) require the

preparation of a reporter's record transcribing the evidence and arguments presented at

the aforementioned hearing. Additionally, the trial court's findings and orders must be

provided to the trial court clerk within 7 days from the date of the hearing.

        The trial court clerk is ORDERED to prepare and file a supplemental clerk's record

containing the written findings and orders of the trial court in this Court within 14 days

from the date of the hearing.

        Further, the trial court's official reporter is ORDERED to prepare and file with the

Clerk of this Court a record of the hearing held within 14 days from the date of the

hearing.

                                                   PER CURIAM

Before Chief Justice Gray,
       Justice Davis, and
       Justice Scoggins
Appeal abated
Order issued and filed December 21, 2016

In the Interest of K.W., D.W. and K.W., Children                                      Page 3