Appeals

If you are convicted of any offenses in your case, you may appeal the court's decision to the Seward County District Court.  The guidelines below are provided to assist you when filing an appeal.

This form is not intended to provide legal advice. 

It is intended to provide general guidelines that are typically followed by the municipal court.  It is your obligation to prepare proper documents and file them in a timely manner.  You may want to request assistance from an attorney.

If you intend to appeal,  DO NOT pay the fines and costs assessed.

File the appeal as set forth below.  You may be required to post a cash bond as set forth below.  If you are successful on your appeal, you will not be required to pay the fines and costs.  If you are not successful on your appeal, you will be required to make the payments of fines and costs at a later date.

If you wish to file an appeal, you must file a Notice of Appeal with either the Liberal Municipal Court or the Seward County District Court Clerk.

A basic Notice of Appeal form can be found here.  You must file the Notice of Appeal within fourteen (14) days of the date of sentencing or your right to appeal will be waived.

You must also post the appearance bond for appeal purposes within fourteen (14) days of the date of sentencing.

You must post this either with the Municipal Court of Liberal or the Seward County District Court Clerk.  If you have been convicted of an offense that involves fines only, the bond is $500 cash or surety bond.  In other cases, the bond will typically be a cash or surety bond and the bond amount will be set by the District Court.  If using a bondsman, the bondsman must be one that is approved by the District Court.  A basic Appearance Bond for Appeal Purposes form can be found here.  You must appear for all hearings as set by the District Court of Seward County as a condition of your bond.

You must pay the district court filing fee.

This amount may vary year to year.  You will need to verify the amount to be paid with the Seward County District Court Clerk.

The procedure you will need to follow will vary based upon where you file the Notice of Appeal.  

If you file the Notice of Appeal with the Liberal Municipal Court:

     a)  You will be provided with a document labeled "Certification" that has other documents stapled to this document. Do not             take this apart.

     b)  You may post the Appearance bond for Appeal Purposes with the municipal court at this time.

     c)  You will be required to take these documents to the Seward County District Court Clerk.  You must pay the filing fee to              the district court when you file the appeal.    

If you file the Notice of Appeal with the Seward County District Court:

     a)  You will pay the filing fee to the Seward County District Court Clerk at the time of filing the Notice of Appeal.

     b)  You will then go to the Liberal Municipal Court to post/file the Appearance Bond for Appeal Purposes.

     c)  The Liberal Municipal Court Clerk will forward the certified documents to the District Court Clerk.

After filing your appeal, you will later receive notice(s) to appear for certain hearings.  

You must appear at all hearings as required by the District Court or your bond will be forfeited and your appeal dismissed.