What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
I was cited wrongly for a traffic infraction in Marin County, and decided to challenge the citation in a court trial. On the day of the trial, I was unable to appear, due to a medical emergency. The patient was the parent of my pre-arranged driver from Sonoma County where I reside, to the courthouse in Marin. I could not drive, as my license was suspended at the time. I could not arrange for another driver at the last minute within the necessary timeframe to attend the court date. The case was decided against me in absentia.
I submitted an appeal of this decision, and provided documentation of the medical emergency and a letter from the driver who had to cancel at the last minute. There was no other content to the appeal - I simply documented the reason for my inability to appear, and wanted a rescheduled court date. This appeal was decided against me.
This seems like a capricious decision, and no reason was given for depriving me of my right to a trial which I missed due to emergency circumstances beyond my control on the first date.
Here is my actual question: Where and how can I further appeal this bad decision in the case of my original appeal? How can I obtain a new court date for the original citation? I assume I must go above the Marin Superior Court, but they are stonewalling me - I need to know which court to go to and how to submit the appeal.
Thank you.
I was cited wrongly for a traffic infraction in Marin County, and decided to challenge the citation in a court trial. On the day of the trial, I was unable to appear, due to a medical emergency. The patient was the parent of my pre-arranged driver from Sonoma County where I reside, to the courthouse in Marin. I could not drive, as my license was suspended at the time. I could not arrange for another driver at the last minute within the necessary timeframe to attend the court date. The case was decided against me in absentia.
I submitted an appeal of this decision, and provided documentation of the medical emergency and a letter from the driver who had to cancel at the last minute. There was no other content to the appeal - I simply documented the reason for my inability to appear, and wanted a rescheduled court date. This appeal was decided against me.
This seems like a capricious decision, and no reason was given for depriving me of my right to a trial which I missed due to emergency circumstances beyond my control on the first date.
Here is my actual question: Where and how can I further appeal this bad decision in the case of my original appeal? How can I obtain a new court date for the original citation? I assume I must go above the Marin Superior Court, but they are stonewalling me - I need to know which court to go to and how to submit the appeal.
Thank you.