In the Interest of W. L.

The Court of Appeals was without jurisdiction to consider the juvenile's direct appeal from a restitution order, because it arose, in part, from an order transferring the case from one juvenile court to another juvenile court, and the transfer order was not a final, appealable order.

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On March 25, 2015, the Juvenile Court of Monroe County entered orders adjudicating W. L., a minor, delinquent of various offenses, ordering him to pay restitution, and transferring the case to the Juvenile Court of Peach County for final disposition. W. L. filed a direct appeal from the restitution order. Because we find that the order appealed was interlocutory, it is not appealable without compliance with the interlocutory appeal procedure of OCGA § 5-6-34 b. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal as premature because the case remains pending in the juvenile court.

On March 25, 2015, W. L. rendered an admission in open court and was adjudicated delinquent by the Juvenile Court of Monroe County for the offenses of theft by receiving stolen property, fleeing and attempting to elude officers, and reckless driving after he took a bus from a church and damaged it while attempting to run away from his assigned group home. In its order, the Juvenile Court of Monroe County acknowledged that W. L. was a resident of Peach County and transferred the case to the Juvenile Court of Peach County for a final adjudication. On the same day, the Juvenile Court of Monroe County entered an order finding that W. L. had caused property damage and ordered that he pay $5,508.38 in restitution. W. L. argues on appeal that the juvenile court erred in awarding restitution without first considering evidence that he had no financial ability to pay the amount of restitution and no prospect of being able to pay in the foreseeable future.

In the Interest of W. L.

The Court of Appeals was without jurisdiction to consider the juvenile's direct appeal from a restitution order, because it arose, in part, from an order transferring the case from one juvenile court to another juvenile court, and the transfer order was not a final, appealable order.

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