Yates v. Gaither

BAKER, Justice.

This is an original mandamus proceeding in which relator, Tania Lynn Yates, seeks an order directing the Honorable Craig Penfold to transfer a suit pending in the 304th District Court to terminate the parental rights of the relator to one of her children, to a divorce action instituted by relator in the 302nd District Court. For the reasons given below, we conditionally grant the writ.

In March 1986, the Dallas County District Attorney filed a suit affecting the parental-child relationship on behalf of the Texas Department of Human Services requesting a hearing with respect to…