Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 2025

In the Interest of M.J., a Child v. the State of Texas

In the Interest of M.J., a Child v. the State of Texas
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided January 22, 2025

In the Interest of M.J., a Child v. the State of Texas

Opinion

In the Court of Appeals Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

No. 06-24-00095-CV

IN THE INTEREST OF M.J., A CHILD

On Appeal from the County Court at Law Bowie County, Texas Trial Court No. 03C1154-CCL

Before Stevens, C.J., van Cleef and Rambin, JJ.

Memorandum Opinion by Justice Rambin MEMORANDUM OPINION Yolanda D. Smith, appellant, filed a notice of appeal in this matter on November 22, 2024. Appellant has not filed a docketing statement in accordance with Rule 32.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP. P. 32.1. Further, appellant has not tendered the mandatory $205.00 filing fee associated with the appeal, see TEX. R. APP. P. 5, and has not filed proof of indigency in lieu of a filing fee, see TEX. R. APP. P. 20.1.

“A party who is not excused by statute or these rules from paying costs must pay—at the time an item is presented for filing—whatever fees are required by statute or Supreme Court order. The appellate court may enforce this rule by any order that is just.” TEX. R. APP. P. 5.

By letter dated December 19, 2024, appellant was provided with notice of and an opportunity to cure these defects. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(b), (c). The clerk’s letter further warned appellant that, if she did not submit an adequate response to the notice by December 30, 2024, this appeal would be subject to dismissal for want of prosecution and for failure to comply with the above-cited rules. See id. Appellant did not file a docketing statement, did not pay the mandatory filing fee, and did not file proof of indigency in lieu of a filing fee. Further, we have received no communication from appellant responsive to our December 19 correspondence.

Accordingly, this appeal is ripe for dismissal.

Pursuant to Rule 42.3, subsections (b) and (c), of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, we dismiss this appeal for want of prosecution.

Jeff Rambin Justice Date Submitted: January 21, 2025 Date Decided: January 22, 2025

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.