Court Opinion

ID: 3101675
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 05:15:13.429266+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:23:48.390596
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-11-00340-CV
                                       
                            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                       
                       FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                                       
                                  AT AMARILLO
                                       
                                    PANEL B
                                       
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MARCH 13, 2012
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                IN THE INTEREST OF S.M.G. AND H.D.W., CHILDREN
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               FROM THE 251ST DISTRICT COURT OF RANDALL COUNTY;
                                       
                 NO. 59,060-C; HONORABLE JAMES ANDERSON, JUDGE
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Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and HANCOCK, JJ.

                              MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                       
	In this appeal from an order terminating the parent-child relationship existing between appellant J.W. and his daughters S.M.G. and H.D.W., appellant asserts the trial court reversibly erred by failing to appoint counsel to represent him at the termination hearing.  
	Appellee the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services sought relief including termination of appellant's parental rights in a petition filed in February 2010.  The case reached final hearing in July 2011.
In response to appellant's brief raising a single issue, the Department has filed a motion which, after notice, we have treated as its appellee's brief.  In it, the Department notes our opinion in In re J.M., No. 07-11-0339-CV, 2012 Tex. App. Lexis 904 (Tex.App.--Amarillo Feb. 1, 2012, n.p.h.), and based on our holding in that case concedes the trial court reversibly erred.  After review of the record, we agree the circumstances presented are sufficiently similar to those in In re J.M. to require reversal here as well.  Accordingly, we sustain appellant's issue, reverse the trial court's judgment and remand the case.

Per Curiam