(a) Any interested party or intervener may appeal an order of the department to the Circuit Court of Montgomery County or to the circuit court of the county in which such party has its principal place of business in Alabama by filing notice of appeal with the department and with the register or clerk of the circuit court within 30 days from the date of said final order. The department’s findings shall be prima facie correct, but the circuit court may hear such appeal according to its own rules and procedures, including the taking of additional testimony and staying the order. In the circuit court, the trial shall be de novo. The court may, if it decides that the department has erred to the prejudice of appellant’s substantial rights in its application of the law or that the order was based upon findings of fact contrary to the substantial weight of the evidence, remand the proceeding to the department for further action in conformity with the direction of the court or may enter such order as the court deems appropriate.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 5-25-15

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • circuit: means judicial circuit. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) Either party may appeal from the circuit court to the Supreme Court of Alabama within 42 days from the date of entry of the order of the circuit court.