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Rule 31 Appeals

RULE 30. APPEALS FROM MUNICIPAL AND DISTRICT COURTS

← Previous Rule 30.6: Stipulations as to questions of law or fact. Next → Rule 32.1: Scope of remedy.

Rule Text

All appeals from judgments rendered in the district and circuit courts to the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court of Alabama shall be taken in accordance with the Rules of Appellate Procedure as promulgated by the Supreme Court of Alabama.

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

If you want to appeal a criminal case decision from district or circuit court, you need to follow Alabama's Rules of Appellate Procedure. This applies whether you're taking your case to the Court of Criminal Appeals or the Alabama Supreme Court.

These appellate rules cover things like deadlines for filing, what paperwork you need, and how the appeal process works step by step. Since this rule points you to a separate, more detailed set of rules, anyone planning to appeal should look up the Rules of Appellate Procedure directly to understand the specific steps and deadlines they must meet.

Missing a deadline or skipping a required step in the appeals process can hurt your case, so it's worth getting familiar with those rules early or talking to an attorney who handles appeals.

Committee Notes

Committee Comments

Rule 31 refers appeals of cases to the appellate courts to the appropriate rules of appellate procedure. For appeals by the state from pre-trial orders, see Rule 15.7. For direct appeals from district court to an appellate court, see Rule 30.2.

← Previous Rule 30.6: Stipulations as to questions of law or fact. Next → Rule 32.1: Scope of remedy.

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Last updated: September 2026

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