What happens when an appellate court determines that it does not have jurisdiction to hear a case?

• A. The appeal is dismissed entirely.
• B. The appeal is sent back to municipal court, which can then collect its judgment.
• C. The case is transferred to the state supreme court.
• D. The record is sealed.

Answer: (B)

When an appellate court finds it lacks jurisdiction to hear a case, it cannot render a decision on the merits. The typical remedy is to send the matter back to the court that issued the judgment, so the enforcement of that judgment can proceed under the lower court’s authority. In this situation, returning the case to the municipal court lets that court take the necessary steps to collect what was adjudicated, using standard collection procedures. The appellate court isn’t overturning or modifying the judgment itself; it’s simply ensuring the case moves forward in the proper forum to enforce the outcome that was already reached. Sealing the record or transferring the case to a higher court for another purpose doesn’t fit the scenario of enforcing an existing municipal court judgment.