How to file an appeal in Arizona (and beyond.)
When a case is decided by a court, it is not necessarily the end of the story. In fact, the way our court systems are designed, plaintiffs and defendants almost always have the option to bring their case to a "higher court." This is called "filing an appeal."
If you are someone who believes that a recent court opinion was contrary to fact or law, then you may be considering filing an appeal yourself.
As an attorney with over forty years of experience in Arizona law, I have seen my fair share of appeals, and have argued several in the higher courts. There is no replacement for having a skilled and experienced attorney who can guide you through this complex and highly nuanced process.
Before you get started, however, there are a lot of questions you can get answered right here, right now.
For everything else, I encourage you to reach out via email at [email protected].
An appeal is made to a higher court by a party who believes the decision below was contrary to fact and or law.
Most appeals do not involve any additional evidence and is a review of the record made in the proceedings in the lower court. For example, if a superior court judge makes a decision, it can be appealed to the court of appeals and reviewed by a three judge panel.
The court of appeals will hear all appeals and render a decision either reversing the lower court’s decision or affirming it.
A party can then ask the Arizona Supreme Court to review what the court of appeals decides, but they do not accept all cases, just those that have some statewide importance.
The court websites provide a lot of information regarding appeals and provide you an opportunity to watch oral arguments. Below are the links to the Arizona Court of Appeals and the Federal 9th Circuit Court.
Location and Availability
Offices are located in Tempe, Arizona. Legal services are offered statewide. Covid safety protocols strictly followed.
M-F, 8am-5pm AZ / MT; leave a voicemail
S-Sun, leave a message via the contact form
Chat with Tom now or call 480-248-9010.
Legal Disclaimer
The information on this website is for general information purposes only and does not establish any attorney-client privilege. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Do not provide any details about your case or matter to the firm through the contact page, as that information will not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship. Before accepting details about your case or matter, we will check for conflicts with our current and past clients.
