Supreme Court of Texas

In deciding whether a conflict of interest exists between parents opposing termination in a single lawsuit, the trial court must determine whether there is a substantial risk that the appointed counsel's obligations to one parent would materially and adversely affect his or her obligations to the other parent.

Appellate Information

• Argued 02/12/2003
• Decided 07/03/2003
• Published 07/03/2003

Judges

• Justice WAINWRIGHT delivered the opinion of the Court.

Court

• Supreme Court of Texas

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Julie Caruthers Parsley,Office of the Solicitor General of Texas, Joseph David Hughes, Assistant Solicitor General, Greg Abbott, Attorney General of the State of Texas, Howard G. Baldwin, First Assistant Attorney General of Texas, Philip A. Lionberger, Lisa Royce Eskow, Office of the Attorney General of Texas, Austin, John W. Segrest, McLennan County Criminal District Attorney, James Wiley, Assistant Criminal District Attorney, Daniel David Semanek, Office of the Criminal District Attorney, Waco, for petitioner.


• For Appellees:
  
• Nita C. Fanning, Law Office of Nita Fanning, Waco, L.T.“ Butch” Bradt, The Teltschik Law Firm, Houston, Gerald Ray Villarrial, Waco, for respondent.