# Padilla Stout's parental-rights appeal

> A congressional candidate's court work is drawing attention after an abuse-linked parental-rights case.
- Title: Padilla Stout's parental-rights appeal · Dallas Express
- Summary: A congressional candidate's court work is drawing attention after an abuse-linked parental-rights case. The appeal did not change the outcome: courts left…
- Keywords: texas politics, courts, family law, child welfare, news, politics, Padilla, Stout's, parental-rights, appeal, Dallas Express
- Source: Dallas Express — https://dallasexpress.com/state/katy-padilla-stout-fought-to-restore-parental-rights-of-father-accused-of-child-abuse-domestic-violence
- Author: Dallas Express
- Published: 2026-09-15T23:00:40+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: texas politics, courts, family law, child welfare, news, politics
## Candidate case surfaces
Katy Padilla Stout, the Democratic nominee in Texas' 23rd District, represented a father appealing the termination of his parental rights.
## Campaign biography cited
Her campaign presents her as a lifelong Texan, mother, attorney, former teacher, and advocate for children and families in the district.

> My life has been defined by a firm commitment to serving the children, families, and communities
## Court role identified
Court records list Padilla Stout as attorney for J.A., father of two children. The docket does not say whether she was appointed or privately retained.
## CPS complaint began case
The case began after a 2022 complaint that a child was crying, two slaps were heard, and the father was the only other person in the room.
## Abuse concerns detailed
State officials alleged the father slapped the child hard enough to cause bruising, swelling, and redness near the eye, requiring EMS evaluation.
## Alcohol concerns grew
The service plan cited worries that the father drank excessively while caring for the children, putting them at risk of injury or death.

> putting them in imminent danger of injury or death
## Jail time weighed heavily
The appellate opinion said the father was incarcerated for nine of the 13 months in the termination case. A sexual assault charge sent him back to jail before trial.
## Termination was affirmed
After an April 2025 bench trial, the court terminated his parental rights. The Fourth Court of Appeals rejected the appeal in a 2-1 decision.

> the evidence is legally sufficient to support this finding
## Dissent saw gaps
Justice Lori Massey Brissette dissented, saying key claims lacked support and the case deserved another look on conservatorship. The Texas Supreme Court denied review.
## Key takeaway

The appeal did not change the outcome: courts left the father's parental-rights termination in place.