NUMBER 13-21-00438-CV COURT OF APPEALS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG IN THE INTEREST OF T.C. AND K.C., CHILDREN

On appeal from the County Court at Law No. 5 of Nueces County, Texas.

ORDER Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Benavides and Tijerina Order Per Curiam This is an appeal of a final order terminating parental rights. Appellee has filed a first motion of extension fo time to file a brief. Appellee’s brief was due on April 14, 2022.

Appellee has requested a twenty-day (20) extension to file a brief.

Appeals in parental termination and child protection cases are governed by the rules of appellate procedure for accelerated appeals but include additional expedited deadlines and procedures. See TEX. R. APP. P. 28.4; TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). The intermediate appellate courts are directed to ensure “as far as reasonably possible” that these appeals are brought to final disposition within 180 days of the date the notice of appeal is filed. TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN. 6.2(a). Given the nature of these cases and the shortened appellate deadlines, we limit the request to one five-day extension of time absent truly extraordinary circumstances. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(d).

This Court, having fully examined and considered appellee’s motion is of the opinion that, in the interest of justice, appellee’s first motion for extension of time to file his brief should be granted in part with order. The Court, however, requires strict adherence to the briefing rules in appeals of parental termination cases, such as this appeal, and looks with disfavor upon the delay caused by such extension requests. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6; see also id. at R. 28.4.

The Court GRANTS in part appellee’s first motion for extension of time. This motion is GRANTED insofar as the Court will extend appellee’s deadline to file its brief to 5:00 o’clock p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2022. The Court DENIES appellee’s request for a twenty-day (20) extension. Further motions for extension of time will not be favorably entertained by this Court, absent extraordinary circumstances.

PER CURIAM

Delivered and filed on the 20th day of April, 2022.