B. D. and S. D. v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Summary

The Texas Court of Appeals for the Third District partially granted appellant B. D.’s motion concerning access to sealed exhibits and the completion of the reporter’s record. The court ordered production of the complete reporter’s record upon receipt of a sealed-documents acknowledgment form, dismissed other requested relief as moot, and set May 11, 2020, as the deadline for appellants’ briefs.

Holdings

1. The court granted the motion in part and ordered the clerk to provide counsel with the sealed-documents acknowledgment form and to produce a complete reporter's record, including the sealed exhibits, upon receipt of the completed form.
2. The requests to abate the appeal and separately order the court reporter to provide the sealed exhibits were dismissed as moot.
3. The appellants' briefs were ordered filed no later than May 11, 2020, and counsel could be required to show cause why they should not be held in contempt if the briefs were not timely filed.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the appellate court should provide appellant's counsel access to the sealed exhibits and a complete reporter's record.
2. Whether the appeal should be abated and the appellant's briefing deadline recalculated while counsel obtained the complete record.
3. What briefing deadline should apply in light of the accelerated schedule for termination-of-parental-rights appeals.

Disposition

other