Appeals Time Limits – True or False Answer!

T/F Tuesday Answer: TRUE! In many jurisdictions, like in Florida, a lower tribunal’s final decision generally must be appealed within 30 days, or the right to appeal is forever lost. While it makes sense to have finality when there are two private parties involved, this strict time limit is NOT appropriate in cases between the government and a private party. But they still apply it nonetheless. See FL Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.110(b)&(d) [civil cases], 9.140(b)(3) [criminal cases], 9.900 [format], and 9.100 [appeals by writ, such as secondary level appeals, etc.].