You can appeal most criminal convictions, infractions, or traffic cases decided in a Justice Court. The appeal is not a review of what happened before. It is a completely new trial in the District Court.

Key rule. You must file your Notice of Appeal within 28 days of the final judgment or sentence in your Justice Court case. Missing this deadline usually ends your appeal rights. The 28 days include weekends and holidays, so plan early.

Appeals are handled by the District Court in the same county as your Justice Court case. For example, if your case was in West Valley Justice Court, your appeal goes to the Third District Court in Salt Lake County.

The process begins with a document called a Notice of Appeal. This form tells the Justice Court you intend to appeal. You can usually find it on the Utah Courts website, or request it from the clerk.

• Submit the Notice of Appeal to the Justice Court where your case was decided.
• Pay the appeal filing fee, or apply for a fee waiver if you qualify.
• The Justice Court will forward the case record to the District Court.

You will receive a new case number and instructions from the District Court. Keep all documents organized. Deadlines and hearing notices will follow soon.

Filing an appeal does not automatically pause fines, jail sentences, or probation terms. You must request a stay of execution in the Justice Court before filing your appeal. If the court denies your stay, you can renew the request in the District Court.

If your appeal involves jail time, you may need to post bail or follow release conditions while waiting for the new trial. Always confirm the terms in writing before you assume a stay is active.

A trial de novo means the District Court starts fresh. No transcripts or evidence from the Justice Court automatically carry over unless you bring them. You can call witnesses, present evidence, and argue your case from the beginning.

Documents to organize before trial:

• Copies of your Notice of Appeal and any receipts
• Any citations or charging documents
• Written motions or rulings from the Justice Court
• Contact information for witnesses or attorneys

District Court follows formal rules of procedure and evidence. If you plan to represent yourself, review Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure or consider limited scope help from a defense attorney.

Once your case reaches District Court, the prosecutor may offer a plea deal. Some cases resolve before trial, especially if the evidence or circumstances changed since the original hearing. You can accept a negotiated plea, proceed to trial, or dismiss the appeal. Dismissing the appeal will reinstate the Justice Court judgment.

Discuss these options early with your attorney or with the prosecutor to avoid delays.

• Missing the 28 day filing deadline
• Failing to request a stay, which can lead to fines or jail while appealing
• Not updating your address and missing court notices
• Assuming the District Court will review the old decision, it will not