Chapter 9: New Trial -
Appeal and Review
§ 901. Effect of irregularities.
§ 902. When appeals may be taken.
§ 903. Right of Trust Territory Government to appeal.
§ 904. Review of District and community courts' decisions.
§ 905. Powers of courts on appeal or review.
§ 906. Stay of execution.
§ 907. Decisions of Appellate Division of High Court final until action by U.S. Congress.
No error in either the admission or exclusion of evidence, and no error or defect in any ruling or order, or in anything done or omitted by the court, or by any of the parties shall constitute a ground for granting a new trial, or for vacating, modifying, or otherwise disturbing a judgment or order, unless refusal to take such action appears to the court inconsistent with substantial justice.
Source: TT Code 1966 § 337; TT Code 1970, 6 TTC 351; TT Code 1980, 6 TTC 351.
Any appeal authorized by law may be taken by filing a notice of appeal with the presiding judge of the court from which the appeal is taken, or with the clerk of the court for the District in which the court was held, within thirty days after the imposition of sentence or entry of the judgment, order, or decree appealed from, or within such longer time as may be prescribed by rules of procedure adopted by the Chief Justice of the Trust Territory under section 502 of title 5 of this code.
Source: TT Code 1966 § 198; TT Code 1970, 6 TTC 352; TT Code 1980, 6 TTC 352.
(1) In a criminal case, the Government shall have the right of appeal only when a written enactment intended to have the force and effect of law has been held invalid. Action on any such appeal shall be limited as provided in section 905 of this chapter.
(2) In civil cases, the Government shall have the same right of appeal as private parties.
Source: TT Code 1966 § 198; TT Code 1970, 6 TTC 353; TT Code 1980, 6 TTC 353.
The Trial Division of the High Court shall review on the record every final decision of the District courts and the community courts in annulment, divorce, and adoption cases in which no appeal has been taken, and it may, in its discretion, review on the record any other final decision of a District or community court in which no appeal has been taken.
Source: TT Code 1966 § 199; TT Code 1970, 6 TTC 354; TT Code 1980, 6 TTC 354.
(1) The High Court on appeal or review and the District court on appeal shall have power to affirm, modify, set aside, or reverse the judgment or order appealed from or reviewed and to remand the case with such directions for a new trial or for the entry of judgment as may be just.
(2) The findings of fact of the Trial Division of the High Court in cases tried by it shall not be set aside by the Appellate Division of that court unless clearly erroneous, but in all other cases the appellate or reviewing Court may review the facts as well as the law.
(3) In a criminal case, the appellate or reviewing Court may set aside the judgment of conviction, or may commute, reduce (but not increase), or suspend the execution of the sentence, and, if the defendant has appealed or requested a new trial, the appellate or reviewing Court may order a new trial; but if the Government has appealed in a criminal case as authorized in section 903 of this chapter, the appellate or reviewing Court may not reverse any finding of not guilty, and its powers shall be limited to a reversal of any determination of invalidity of an enactment intended to have the force of law.
Source: TT Code 1966 § 200; TT Code 1970, 6 TTC 355; TT Code 1980, 6 TTC 355.
Pending review or the hearing and determination of an appeal, execution of the judgment, order, or sentence of a court will not be stayed unless:
(1) the appellate court, reviewing court, or the trial court orders a stay for cause shown and upon such terms as it may fix; or
(2) as otherwise provided by law.
Source: TT Code 1966 § 201; TT Code 1970, 6 TTC 356; TT Code 1980, 6 TTC 356.
Unless and until the Congress of the United States provides for an appeal to a court created by act of Congress, the decisions of the Appellate Division of the High Court shall be final.
Source: TT Code 1966 § 202; TT Code 1970, 6 TTC 357; TT Code 1980, 6 TTC 357.