You are correct. There are no Juries in appeals Court. The point of Sheriff Joe’s appeal is that he demanded a jury trial in the first place and the Judge refused. I know a person has a right to a jury trial unless the defendant waives same. In this case the Judge decided to only charge a misdemeanor for which a jury is not required. Sheriff Joe was basically given a reverse Judge shopping case.
That's not correct. In most misdemeanor cases, which the Supreme Court has identified as petty infractions with a maximum penalty of less than six months in jail, a jury trial is not required and the defendant can't request one.