§ 3.2.1 Statutory Compliance Required. The right to appeal can only be given or denied by the Arizona Constitution or the legislature. See Haywood Sec., Inc. v. Ehrlich, 214 Ariz. 114, 116, ¶ 9, 149 P.3d 738, 740 (2007). See also § 3.3.4.2. Thus, absent pertinent provisions in the state constitution, the right of appeal exists only when a statute specifically grants it. See, e.g., Garza v. Swift Transp. Co., 222 Ariz. 281, 283, ¶ 12, 213 P.3d 1008, 1012 (2009) (appellate court jurisdiction derived wholly from statute); Musa v. Adrian, 130 Ariz. 311, 312, 636 P.2d 89, 90 (1981) (if no statute provides that a particular judgment or order is appealable, Arizona appellate courts do not have jurisdiction to consider merits of question raised on appeal); Svendsen v. Ariz. Dept. of Transp., 234 Ariz. 528, 530, ¶ 5, 323 P.3d 1179, 1181 (App. 2014) (right of appeal exists only as provided by statute).
Accordingly, if no statute provides such a right, the appellate court lacks jurisdiction to consider the issues raised on appeal. See Stant v. City of Maricopa Emp. Merit Bd., 234 Ariz. 196, 198, ¶ 5, 319 P.3d 1002, 1004 (App. 2014); Anderson v. Valley Union High Sch., 229 Ariz. 52, 54, ¶ 2, 270 P.3d 879, 881 (App. 2012). The court of appeals also cannot consider an appeal from the superior court on the merits unless the superior court had jurisdiction. See Riendeau v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 223 Ariz. 540, 541, ¶ 4, 225 P.3d 597, 598 (App. 2010). Although the court of appeals favors deciding appeals on their merits and tries to avoid dismissing appeals on technical grounds, it must dismiss an appeal if it lacks jurisdiction. See Fields v. Oates, 230 Ariz. 411...
