Superior Court appeals provide second chances

The Justice of the Peace handles limited civil and criminal law cases and can provide financial judgments and impose criminal sentences upon defendants who are found guilty. A financial or criminal penalty imposed upon a defendant by a county justice court is one the defendant can appeal and delay payment to the other party or remain free on bond in low-level criminal cases. Decisions rendered in civil and criminal law cases and penalties in Arizona are subject to appeal to the Superior Court. State civil and criminal law allow appeals filed within five court days of a Justice Court ruling.

When appealing a monetary judgment against him or her, the person filing the appeal must pay a bond amount equal to the judgment amount. That ensures the court the appellant has the financial means to cover the judgment and is not just stalling for time or otherwise trying to avoid paying a valid judgment.

In some instances, a defendant appealing a financial judgment might have to pay periodic rent rather than a bond to obtain a stay of execution. The stay of execution means the penalty imposed by the Justice Court is on hold while related legal matters are decided. In the case of an appeal, the stay of execution would remain in effect until the Superior Court renders a final judgment on the appeal.

The appeals process applies to all levels of civil and criminal law decisions made by Arizona courts. If you have faced charges are considering appealing a Justice Court ruling in Arizona, an experienced and skilled civil and criminal law attorney is an asset that can help greatly.