Anyone who is convicted of a crime has an automatic right of appeal. There are a host of reasons why someone may choose to appeal the ultimate finding in their case.  Even the City of Seattle can appeal certain evidentiary rulings so long as the appeal is made prior to a jury coming back with a not guilty verdict.

Appeals from Seattle Municipal Court rulings are generally heard in King County Superior Court.  Occasionally, appeals may proceed directly to a higher court.  It is the Seattle City Attorney's office that prosecutes and defends appeals brought as the result of a Seattle Municipal Court ruling.  When appeals are made, it does not automatically stay the conditions of the sentence that was imposed. A motion to stay must be made to either the originating court or the appellate court.  Commonly, in order to stay conditions of a sentence pending appeal, such as jail, fines, probation or treatment, an appellate bond must be posted by the appealing party.  This bond assures that the individual will behave in a way deemed appropriate by the court while the case is on appeal.

After the appeal has been heard, the case is remanded back to Seattle Municipal Court for further proceedings.  At such a time a case may be dismissed, proceed to sentencing, be retried or just proceed in a way consistent with the appellate court's ruling.