How to use the petty offense appeal deadline calculator
There is no summary order procedure in United States criminal practice. Korea disposes of many minor cases on the papers by summary order, and the defendant then has seven days to demand an ordinary trial. Here the nearest equivalent is an appeal from a conviction in a minor or petty offense court, which in many systems is heard as a trial de novo rather than as a review of a transcript.
In federal court a defendant convicted of a petty offense before a magistrate judge appeals to a district judge within 14 days of entry of judgment. In state systems the period is set by statute and commonly falls between ten and thirty days, so the field above stays editable. Pick the date judgment was entered and the tool shows the filing deadline and the days left.
Authority: Fed. R. Crim. P. 58(g)(2)(B) for the federal 14 day period, Fed. R. Crim. P. 45(a) for how days are counted, and your state's appeal statute or court rule for state cases. Stated as of September 2026.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Appeal deadlines are usually strict and rarely extended, so confirm the date with the clerk of court and a licensed attorney.
Frequently asked questions
In systems that provide one, yes, the case is tried again in the higher court rather than reviewed on the record from below. Whether that route is available depends on the state and on the level of court that entered the conviction, so check the statute that governs the court you were in.
It can in some systems, because the higher court sentences afresh after a new trial, while due process limits vindictive resentencing. This is one of the main points to weigh with counsel before filing rather than a question with one nationwide answer.