Appeals to district and Supreme Court. The party aggrieved in a criminal action may appeal only as follows:
1. Whether that party is the State or the defendant:
(a) To the district court of the county from a final judgment of the justice’s court.
(b) To the Supreme Court from an order of the district court granting a motion to dismiss, a motion for acquittal or a motion in arrest of judgment, or granting or refusing a new trial.
(c) To the Supreme Court from a determination of the district court about whether a defendant is mentally retarded that is made as a result of a hearing held pursuant to NRS 174.098. If the Supreme Court entertains the appeal, it shall enter an order staying the criminal proceedings against the defendant for such time as may be required.
2. The State may, upon good cause shown, appeal to the Supreme Court from a pretrial order of the district court granting or denying a motion to suppress evidence made pursuant to NRS 174.125. Notice of the appeal must be filed with the clerk of the district court within 2 judicial days and with the Clerk of the Supreme Court within 5 judicial days after the ruling by the district court. The clerk of the district court shall notify counsel for the defendant or, in the case of a defendant without counsel, the defendant within 2 judicial days after the filing of the notice of appeal. The Supreme Court may establish such procedures as it determines proper in requiring the appellant to make a preliminary showing of the propriety of the appeal and whether there may be a miscarriage of justice if the appeal is not entertained. If the Supreme Court entertains the appeal, or if it otherwise appears necessary, it may enter an order staying the trial for such time as may be required.
3. The defendant only may appeal from a final judgment or verdict in a criminal case.
4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3 of NRS 174.035, the defendant in a criminal case shall not appeal a final judgment or verdict resulting from a plea of guilty or nolo contendere that the defendant entered into voluntarily and with a full understanding of the nature of the charge and the consequences of the plea, unless the appeal is based upon reasonable constitutional, jurisdictional or other grounds that challenge the legality of the proceedings. The Supreme Court may establish procedures to require the defendant to make a preliminary showing of the propriety of the appeal.
Last modified: February 25, 2006