What happens when an appeal is filed?

For civil and criminal appeals from Parish Courts, when the appeal is filed (verbally or in writing) the Parish Court prepares the record of proceedings and forwards it to the Court of Appeal and to the parties. Once the record of proceedings is received by the Court of Appeal a hearing date is set for the appeal.

In the case of other civil appeals, if it is a procedural appeal it is set for consideration on paper by the court. If it is an appeal in which no oral evidence was taken, the appellant is required to file the record of appeal within 28 days of filing the appeal.

If it is an appeal in which oral evidence was taken, a request will be made for a certified copy of the record of proceedings (inclusive of the notes of evidence and reasons for judgment). Once received the parties will be notified and the appellant required to file the record of appeal within 28 days of being notified.

Once the record of appeal is filed the matter is referred to a single judge who may make case management orders on paper or direct that a case management conference be scheduled.

For criminal matters from the Supreme Court once the notice of appeal/application for leave to appeal is filed in Form B1 a request is made for the transcript. When the transcript is received from the Supreme Court it is referred to a single judge of appeal who then determines whether to grant the application for leave to appeal. If leave to appeal is granted, the matter is set for hearing before a panel of three judges. If leave to appeal is refused the applicant may apply in Form B6 to have the application considered by a panel of three judges.