Supreme Court

Case: 24-0307    
24-0307
04/17/2024
Second Petition for Review/Cause under Rule 53.1
IN THE INTEREST OF H.S., B.S., AND M.S., CHILDREN 
 
Appellate Briefs
Date▲▼Event Type▲▼Description▲▼RemarksDocument
10/07/2025Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed) Amicus Curiae Brief received on behalf of the Family Freedom Project, submitted by Chris Branson of The Chris Branson Law Firm, PLLC of Houston, Texas.
09/23/2025Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed) Amicus Curiae Brief received on behalf of Cecilia M. Wood.
01/14/2025Reply BriefPetitioner Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of K.S.
01/14/2025Reply BriefPetitioner Petitioner's Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of C.S.
12/30/2024Brief on the MeritsRespondent Respondent's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
11/26/2024Brief on the MeritsPetitioner Petitioner's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of K.S.
11/26/2024Brief on the MeritsPetitioner Petitioner's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of C.S.
10/25/2024Petition for Review Reinstated #2 
10/25/2024Petition Reinstated 
07/01/2024Response to Petition  Response to Petition for Review filed on behalf of TDFPS
05/06/2024Petition for Review (Parental Termination) #2Event related to subsequent petition filed in case. Petition for Review filed on behalf of C.S.
04/17/2024Petition for Review (Parental Termination)Petitioner Petition for Review filed on behalf of K.S.
Case Events
Date▲▼Event Type▲▼Disposition▲▼RemarksDocument
12/30/2025Designation of Lead Counsel   Designation of Lead Counsel filed on behalf of Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
12/30/2024Brief on the Merits  Respondent's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
12/11/2025Case Record Filed  
12/11/2024Motion for Extension of Time disposed.Filing granted Motion for Extension of Time to file Respondent's Brief on the Merits is granted. Respondent's Brief is due no later than December 30, 2024. Petitioner's Reply Brief is due no later than January 14, 2025. Further requests for extensions of time for this filing will be disfavored.
12/11/2024Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Respondent's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
11/26/2024Brief on the Merits  Petitioner's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of K.S.
11/26/2024Brief on the Merits  Petitioner's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of C.S.
11/08/2024Motion for Extension of Time disposed.Filing granted Motion for Extension of Time to file Petitioner's Brief on the Merits is granted. Petitioner's Brief is due November 26, 2024. Further requests for extensions of time for this filing will be disfavored. Response Brief is due December 16, 2024. Reply Brief is due December 31, 2024.
11/08/2024Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  Joint Motion for Extension of Time to file Petitioner's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of K.S., et al.
10/25/2024Brief on the Merits Ordered  Expedited brief on the merits requested: Petitioner's brief due no later than November 12, 2024; Response brief due November 22, 2024; Reply brief due December 2, 2024.
10/25/2024Abatement Order Lifted  Abatement order issued September 6, 2024 is lifted.
10/25/2024Petition for Review Reinstated #2 
10/25/2024Petition Reinstated 
10/22/2024Notice of Appearance  Notice of Appearance and Designation of Lead Counsel filed on behalf of K.S.
10/22/2024Notice of Appearance  Notice of Appearance and Designation of Lead Counsel filed on behalf of C.S.
10/21/2024Call received  Call from counsel stating they will file notice of appearance.
10/18/2024Letter Filed  Letter filed on behalf of K.S.
10/07/2025Amicus Curiae Brief received  Amicus Curiae Brief received on behalf of the Family Freedom Project, submitted by Chris Branson of The Chris Branson Law Firm, PLLC of Houston, Texas.
09/23/2025Amicus Curiae Brief received  Amicus Curiae Brief received on behalf of Cecilia M. Wood.
09/23/2025Call received  Call received from Amicus Curiae Attorney.
09/09/2025Oral argument   Argued on behalf of Petitioner, C.S., by Shane Kotlarsky (Dobrowski Stafford & Pierce LLP), from Houston. Argued on behalf of Petitioner, K.S., by Cody Lee Vaughn (Jackson Walker, L.L.P.), from Austin. Argued on behalf of  Respondent by Natalie Barnett (Parker County Attorney's Office), from Weatherford and Jacob C. Beach (Office of the Attorney General), from Austin.
09/09/2025Oral argument   Argued on behalf of Petitioner, C.S., by Shane Kotlarsky (Dobrowski Stafford & Pierce LLP), from Houston. Argued on behalf of Petitioner, K.S., by Cody Lee Vaughn (Jackson Walker, L.L.P.), from Austin. Argued on behalf of  Respondent by Natalie Barnett (Parker County Attorney's Office), from Weatherford and Jacob C. Beach (Office of the Attorney General), from Austin.
09/06/2024Order of the Court IssuedMatter in Supreme Court of Texas Abated Order issued stating: "The case is abated pursuant to case no. 15-0171, In re P.M., until further order of this Court. The Court has determined that briefs on the merits addressing the opinion in the court of appeals would benefit the consideration of the above-styled case. The case is remanded to the trial court to determine if the petitioners are entitled to counsel to aid in filing briefs on the merits. The trial court should hold any hearings necessary and make and issue findings of fact and  conclusions of law as necessary. The parties shall immediately notify this Court about any changes in status in the trial court."
09/06/2024Petition for Review disposedMatter in Supreme Court of Texas Abated
09/06/2024Petition for Review disposedMatter in Supreme Court of Texas Abated
09/06/2024Motion to withdraw disposed ofFiling granted Motion for Withdrawal of Counsel filed by Josh Norrell granted
09/06/2024Motion to withdraw disposed ofFiling granted Amended Motion for Withdrawal of Counsel filed by Lindsay O. Williams granted
08/25/2025Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  Oral Argument will be presented by Cody Lee Vaughn with Jackson Walker LLP of Austin, Texas, and Shane Kotlarsky, filed on behalf of K.S.
08/25/2025Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  Oral Argument will be presented by Shane Kotlarsky with Dobrowski Stafford & Pierce LLP of Houston, Texas, and Cody Lee Vaughn, filed on behalf of C.S.
08/22/2025Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  Oral Argument Submission Form submitted on behalf of Texas Department and Family Services. Oral Argument will be presented by Natalie Barnett and Jacob C. Beach of the Office of the Texas Attorney General of Austin, Texas.
08/22/2025Notice of Appearance  Notice of Appearance filed on behalf of Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
08/22/2025Miscellaneous motion disposed. See Remarks.Denied with Justice not sitting. (Justice Devine not participating)
08/15/2025Letter Filed  Letter filed on behalf of C.S.
08/15/2025Call received  Call received from Petitioner's Counsel.
07/18/2025Motion to expand time for oral argument  Unopposed Motion to Expand Time for Oral Argument filed on behalf of C.S.
07/18/2025Call received  Call received from counsel regarding brief.
07/17/2026Mandate issued  Mandate & Cost Bill Issued
07/01/2024Response to Petition  Response to Petition for Review filed on behalf of TDFPS
06/14/2024Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response  Requested responses to both petitions for review due no later than July 1, 2024.
06/05/2026Court approved judgment sent to attorneys of recordIssued
06/05/2026Dissenting opinion issued.Issued Justice Lehrmann filed an opinion dissenting in part, in which Justice Bland and Justice Huddle joined.
06/05/2026Opinion issuedIssued
06/05/2026Opinion issuedCourt affirms in part, reverses in part and renders court of appeals' judgment The Court affirms in part and reverses in part the court of appeals' judgment and renders judgment in part. Justice Young delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Justice Blacklock, Justice Busby, Justice Sullivan, and Justice Hawkins joined. (Justice Devine not participating)
(6/5/2026 11:59:33 AM) 240307d.pdf, 240307.pdf, 24-0307.jmt.pdf
05/30/2025Case set for oral argumentCase set for oral argument This cause has been set for oral argument at 9:00 a.m., September 9, 2025. (Justice Devine not participating)
05/30/2025Case set for oral argumentCase set for oral argument This cause has been set for oral argument at 9:00 a.m., September 9, 2025. (Justice Devine not participating)
05/14/2024Case forwarded to Court 
05/14/2024Case forwarded to Court 
05/07/2024Motion to Withdraw Filed  Motion to Withdraw as Counsel filed on behalf of C.S.
05/07/2024Electronic communication sent to Party  Email sent to counsel regarding motion to withdraw.
05/06/2024Petition for Review (Parental Termination) #2  Petition for Review filed on behalf of C.S.
05/05/2025Notice from attorney regarding vacation dates  Vacation Notice filed on behalf of C.S.
04/23/2024Amendment to Motion filed   Amended Motion to Withdraw filed on behalf of Counsel for K.S.
04/17/2024Letter Filed  Letter filed on behalf of K.S.
04/17/2024Motion to Withdraw Filed  Motion to Withdraw filed on behalf of counsel for K.S.
04/17/2024Petition for Review (Parental Termination)  Petition for Review filed on behalf of K.S.
04/17/2024Clerk's Record 
04/17/2024Court reporter/recorder's record 
04/17/2024Clerk's Record 
04/04/2025Petition for Review disposedFiling granted The date and time for oral argument are yet to be determined. (Justice Devine not participating)
04/04/2025Petition for Review granted 
04/04/2025Petition for Review disposedFiling granted The date and time for oral argument are yet to be determined. (Justice Devine not participating)
04/04/2025Petition for Review granted 
01/14/2025Reply Brief  Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of K.S.
01/14/2025Reply Brief  Petitioner's Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of C.S.
Calendars
Set Date▲▼Calendar Type▲▼Reason Set▲▼Remarks▲▼
07/17/2026Case StoredCase stored.e-stored
Parties
Party▲▼Party Type▲▼Representative▲▼
Family Freedom Project Amicus CuriaeMr. Chris Branson
S., K.PetitionerMr. Peter C. Hansen
Mr. Cody L. Vaughn
S., B.Other interested party Ms. Tiffany Fowler
S., M.Other interested party Ms. Tiffany Fowler
Wood, Cecilia M.Amicus CuriaeMs. Cecilia M. Wood
S., C.PetitionerMr. Josh P. Norrell
Mr. Shane Kotlarsky
Texas Department of Family and Protective ServicesRespondentMr. Brent Webster
Nathaniel A. Plemons
Ms. Allison M. Collins
Ms. Natalie Geraldine Mu Barnett
Mr. W. Kenneth Paxton
Mr. William Peterson
S., H.Other interested party Ms. Tiffany Fowler
Court of Appeals Information:
Affirmed  
710 SW3d 248, 03-21-24 
2nd Court of Appeals 
Honorable Elizabeth Sturdivant Kerr 
Trial Court Information
County Court at Law No 2 
Parker 
Honorable Lynn Marie Johnson 
CIV-22-0621