Indiana Code

Ind. Code § 33-35-5-9 (2026)

Appeals from city and town courts; procedure

✓ current as of May 2026
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     Sec. 9. (a) An appeal from a judgment of a city court may be taken to the circuit, superior, or probate court of the county and tried de novo.

     (b) An appeal from a judgment of a town court may be taken to the superior, circuit, or probate court of the county within thirty (30) days after the rendition of the judgment and tried de novo.

     (c) A prisoner against whom punishment is adjudged by a city court may appeal to the circuit, superior, or probate court of the county within thirty (30) days after the judgment. If the prisoner, within the thirty (30) days, enters into recognizance for the prisoner's appearance in court and causes to be filed in the court, within forty-five (45) days, all other papers, documents, and transcripts necessary to complete the appeal, the appeal stays all further proceedings on the judgment in the court below. However, the prisoner may remain in jail on the prisoner's sentence instead of furnishing a recognizance, and an appeal without recognizance does not stay the execution of the court below.

[Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-10.1-5-9.]

As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.201-2011, SEC.100.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2014–2023 · leading case: Jason M. Morris v. State of Indiana, 114 N.E.3d 531 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018).
Jason M. Morris v. State of Indiana, 114 N.E.3d 531 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “" Ind. Code § 33-35-5-9 (a) ; see also Ind.”
City of Hammond v. John Rostankovski, 119 N.E.3d 113 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 12× “[10] Accordingly, although at first glance I.C. § 33-35-5-9 permits Hammond to appeal the adverse judgment to the Superior Court and try the Complaint de novo , Indiana's procedural De Novo rules explicitly advance this right only to 'a defendant.”
Anthony G. Taylor v. State of Indiana, 120 N.E.3d 635 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 4× “Code § 33-35-5-7 (a), and "[a]n appeal from a judgment of a city court may be taken to the circuit, superior, or probate court of the county and tried de novo," Ind. Code § 33-35-5-9 (a). See also Ind. Trial De Novo Rule 2 ("A defendant who has a statutory right to an appeal…”
Bryan Priest v. State of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 2× “§ 33-35-5-7(b), and “[a]n appeal from a judgment of a town court may be taken to the superior, circuit, or probate court of the county within thirty (30) days after the rendition of the judgment and tried de novo[,]” I.C. § 33-35-5-9(b); see also Ind. Trial De Novo Rule 2 (“A…”
Gilda Orange, Members of the Common Council of the City of East Chicago, Ind. v. Hon. Sonya A. Morris, 23 N.E.3d 787 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “Current version at Ind.Code § 33-35-5-9. 4 . Judge Morris clarified at oral argument that the City Court was seeking only its appellate attorney’s fees and expenses, as litigation below was not handled by outside counsel.”
— Ind. Code § 33-35-5-9(a) — 1 case
City of Hammond v. John Rostankovski, 119 N.E.3d 113 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019). “[10] Accordingly, although at first glance I.C. § 33-35-5-9 permits Hammond to appeal the adverse judgment to the Superior Court and try the Complaint de novo , Indiana's procedural De Novo rules explicitly advance this right only to 'a defendant.”
— Ind. Code § 33-35-5-9(b) — 1 case
Bryan Priest v. State of Indiana (Ind. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 33-35-5-7(b), and “[a]n appeal from a judgment of a town court may be taken to the superior, circuit, or probate court of the county within thirty (30) days after the rendition of the judgment and tried de novo[,]” I.C. § 33-35-5-9(b); see also Ind. Trial De Novo Rule 2 (“A…”
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