Rule 21 Stay of execution

If you decide to appeal a decision made by a magistrate, your sentence gets put on hold automatically. This means you don't have to start serving your sentence while your appeal is being filed or is moving through the court process.

You also have the right to ask for more time before your sentence starts if you want to file a motion for a new trial or ask the court to change your sentence. Once you make this request, the magistrate must pause your sentence. If you then file the actual motion or petition on time, the pause continues until the court makes a decision on it.

While your sentence is paused, the magistrate will still require you to post bond or keep the bond you already have in place. This makes sure you show up to future court dates as needed. In short, this rule gives you breathing room to pursue an appeal or ask for a new trial, but it does not let you skip out on your responsibility to stay available to the court.