An appeal abandoned in open court where no hearing on the merits has taken place is a procedural dismissal, and the appellant may seek to revive it, but the Court retains discretion to refuse an extension of time where the applicant has demonstrated persistent non-compliance with directions, inability to articulate coherent grounds, and constructive failure to prosecute the appeal diligently. A judge's prior participation in related interlocutory or procedural decisions concerning the same appeal does not, without more, give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias on a subsequent application.
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