Q: While you may have represented yourself at trial, the arguments on appeal can be quite a bit more complex. You also will be expected to understand court rules and legal theory as well as an attorney would if you represent yourself. If you had an attorney represent you at trial, find out if they are willing to represent you on appeal. Not all trial litigators have experience fighting appeals. If your trial attorney can't assist you, they may be able to provide you with a recommendation. Experienced appeals attorneys can be more expensive than trial attorneys. If you have limited funds, look for low-cost resources in your community, such as nonprofit organizations. Appellate courts typically are divided into districts, with each appellate court having jurisdiction over the decisions of several different trial courts. Check the website for your state's court system to find out which court has jurisdiction over your appeal. Someone in the court clerk's office or the courthouse law library also may be able to help you identify the correct court. This court may be some distance from you, particularly if you live in a rural area. If you represent yourself on appeal, you are expected to know and follow the rules just as an attorney would be. For a criminal case, you'll need to know Criminal Procedure rules. If it's a civil case, you'll need to know Civil Procedure rules. Not being an attorney won't get you off the hook if you miss a deadline or don't file the correct documents. You can get a copy of the local rules at the courthouse law library. Many court systems also have the rules available online. The section of the rules governing appeals is usually only a few pages long. Your notice of appeal alerts the courts and the other party to the case that you plan to appeal the trial judge's decision. The notice is a fairly formulaic document that typically doesn't go into the exact reasons for the appeal. You may be required to serve the notice on the other party before you file it with the court, or you may be able to file it first. Check with the clerk of the court to make sure. You typically can find a form that you can use for your notice of appeal. Ask at the clerk's office or the courthouse law library. If there's not a form, they should be able to give you a copy of one from another case that you can use as an example. You'll need to file the notice of appeal at the appellate court that will hear the appeals case not the court that held your trial. You may be able to file your notice online, or you may have to go to the appellate courthouse and file it in person with the clerk. When you file your notice of appeal you'll have to pay a filing fee. The filing fee for an appeal is typically several hundred dollars. You may be able to get a fee waiver if you have low income and are unable to pay it. Ask the clerk for an application. If you haven't already, you'll be responsible for serving a copy of the notice of appeal on the other party to your case. Typically you'll do this by paying a small fee to a sheriff or private process server. The trial transcript is a document produced by the court reporter that provides a verbatim account of everything said and done at trial. You'll need a copy of the transcript yourself, and you'll also need to have one sent up to the appellate court. Most courts have forms you can use to file your request for the trial transcript. Check online or ask for a form in the appellate clerk's office. Unless you've already been granted a fee waiver, expect to pay a few hundred dollars to get copies of the trial transcript. It also usually takes several weeks to get the transcript together and bound.
A: Hire or consult an attorney. Identify the correct court. Read the local rules carefully if you're representing yourself. Draft a notice of appeal. File your notice of appeal. Request a copy of the trial transcript.

Q: Hold the applicator in your dominant hand and use the other to gently stretch and flatten the cow's ear. The jaws of the device should be hovering above the soft central part of the ear you pinpointed earlier. Remember to keep to the fleshy tissue, and avoid cartilage, visible blood vessels, or other easily-damaged structures. Squeeze the handles together in 1 smooth motion. You'll hear a loud click as the 2 halves of the tag come together. Once the tag is in place, release the handles and pull the applicator away. Speak to the cow in a soft voice and stroke its head and neck to keep it calm as its momentary discomfort passes, but avoid touching its ears. You'll need to be quick to get the tag in before the cow moves its head. Don't put any pressure on the applicator handles until you're ready to insert the tag. Failing to successfully apply the tag on the first attempt will only cause unnecessary pain. Check to make sure the tag is correctly positioned, is secure, and doesn't appear to be causing the cow any discomfort. It may be a good idea to jot down the animal's unique identifying code or number in case you need to adjust the tag later on. When using an electronic identification device (EID), it's important that the visual panel (the face of the male piece) be situated on the outer part of the ear where it can be seen clearly and easily. Many ranchers tag both ears of their cattle to make them easier to read from either side. Some even insert an additional EID or RFID device along with traditional panel tags. If you decide that it's necessary to apply a second tag, repeat the process the same way you did the first. Once the tag is in position, release the animal from the chute and free it from its lead rope. The newly-attached tag should remain in place for several years, allow you to track, identify, and account for the cow among the rest of your livestock more easily. Sturdy metal identifying buttons tend to stay put longer than flimsy plastic tags. Keep a close eye on the area around the tag. Any excessive redness, swelling, or discharge you observe should be treated as a serious concern. Applying a topical disinfectant like rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide can go a long way in preventing infection, especially if your cattle spend a lot of time grazing in wet conditions. Continue treating the tagging site with disinfectant for at least 3-5 days after the puncture has healed. If infection symptoms don't begin to clear up within about a week, contact a large animal veterinarian for a more advanced course of treatment.
A:
Position the applicator over the tagging site. Clamp the applicator shut firmly and quickly. Inspect the finished tag. Tag the other ear if desired. Let the cow go. Check the tagging site for signs of infection for the next 5-7 days.