
The Appeals Department of the Clerk's Office prepares
and maintains circuit and county court appeals. The decision of
any court case can be appealed. County Court cases, for example,
misdemeanors, county civil and traffic infraction cases, are appealed
to the Circuit Court. Circuit Court cases, for example, felonies,
circuit civil, probate and juvenile cases, are appealed to the
District Court of Appeals. Death penalty cases are appealed directly
to the Supreme Court of Florida. A party or defendant in a case
has thirty (30) days from the date the decision is rendered in
the lower court to file a Notice of Appeal. The appellate court
(or higher court) reviews the decision of the lower court after
hearing legal arguments and briefs to determine if an error occurred
during the disposition of the case.