Court Opinion

ID: 2903444
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-09 20:27:41.490967+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:08:34.509310
License: Public Domain

Becker v. State

COURT OF APPEALS
EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO, TEXAS

IN THE INTEREST OF C.A.B., B.S.B.,
and E.C.B., MINOR CHILDREN,

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No. 08-08-00346-CV

Appeal from
 112th District Court

of Crockett County, Texas

(TC # 04-07-06680-CV)

MEMORANDUM OPINION

	N.J.B., a/k/a N.J.L., appeals a final decree terminating her parental rights to three children. 
We affirm.
	N.J.B. is represented on appeal by court-appointed counsel who has filed a brief in
accordance with the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 741-44, 87 S. Ct. 1396,
1398-1400, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967).  Court-appointed counsel has concluded that, after thorough
review of the record, N.J.B.'s appeal is frivolous and without merit.  In Anders, the Supreme Court
recognized that counsel, though appointed to represent the appellant in an appeal from a criminal
conviction, had no duty to pursue a frivolous matter on appeal.  Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S. Ct.
at 1400.  Thus, counsel was permitted to withdraw after informing the court of his conclusion and
the effort made in arriving at that conclusion.  Id.  We have held that Anders is applicable to an
appeal from a termination of parental rights where court-appointed counsel has determined that the
appeal is frivolous.  In re J.B., ---- S.W.3d ----, 2009 WL 283197 (Tex.App.--El Paso 2009, no pet.).
	Court-appointed counsel's brief meets the requirements of Anders by advancing contentions
which might arguably support the appeal.  See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S. Ct. at 1400; High v.
State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex.Crim.App. 1978); Currie v. State, 516 S.W.2d 684 (Tex.Crim.App.
1974).  Counsel has established that she provided N.J.B. with a copy of the Anders brief, notified
her of her right to file a pro se brief, and explained how she could obtain a copy of the appellate
record.  N.J.B. has not filed a pro se brief.  Having thoroughly reviewed the record and counsel's
brief, we agree with counsel's assessment that the appeal is frivolous and without merit.  A further
discussion of the arguable grounds advanced in counsel's brief would add nothing to the
jurisprudence of the state.  The judgment is affirmed.

September 30, 2009					 
							ANN CRAWFORD McCLURE, Justice

Before Chew, C.J., McClure, and Rivera, JJ.