S. O., Appellant v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee (2016)

ORDER

This is a contempt proceeding ancillary to the appeal of S.O. The subject of this proceeding is William Dominguez, appellant's court-appointed counsel.

Appellant filed her notice of appeal on November 25, 2015, and her brief was due January 11, 2016.  On January 15, 2016, we ordered Dominguez to file appellant's brief no later than February 1, 2016.  After Dominguez failed to file the brief by February 1, we ordered him to appear in person to show cause why he should not be held in contempt and have sanctions imposed for his failure to obey our January 15, 2016 order, although we would have withdrawn the show-cause order if Dominguez filed the brief on or before February 22.

The show-cause hearing was held in the Court on February 24, 2016, and Dominguez appeared as ordered.  After consideration of the record and Dominguez's explanation for failing to comply with our previous order, we order Dominguez to file appellant's brief no later than March 9, 2016.  Failure to do so by that date will result in (1) this Court holding Dominguez in contempt for violating our January 15, 2016 order, which was sufficiently clear and specific in its requirement that appellant's brief was to be filed no later than February 1, 2016, see In re Coppock, 277 S.W.3d 417, 418 (Tex.2009), and (2) the Court imposing a fine of $250, see Tex. Gov't Code § 21.002(b).

It is so ordered on February 24, 2016.

PER CURIAM