Tracey Cassetty v. Commonwealth of Kentucky

Summary

The Court held that a notice of appeal identifying only an order denying recusal, rather than the final judgment, does not substantially comply with the appellate rules and fails to invoke appellate jurisdiction. The relation-forward doctrine does not save a notice naming a clearly interlocutory order because such an order cannot reasonably be mistaken for the final judgment. The Court affirmed dismissal of the appeal, while noting that a belated appeal may remain available through the proper procedure.