Texas Court Order Denying Department Of Family & Protective Services & Attorney General’s Petition For Writ Of Mandamus To Block Appointment Of Child Welfare Special Masters

On July 7, 2016, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals released this document denying the Texas Attorney General’s (AG) petition filed in March to vacate the special masters’ appointments. The Texas Department of Protective and Family Services (DFPS) is preparing to overhaul its child protective services (CPS) processes as required by the December 2015 federal court ruling on M.D., v. Abbott. In March 2016, to guide the overhaul, the court appointed two special masters Kevin Ryan, former New Jersey Commissioner of Children and Families, and Francis McGovern, JD . . .