Need a Criminal Lawyer?

Here are a list of court and pretrial motions below. A law motion is a request for a judge to make a ruling with regard to a legal issue in a case. A motion can be made in writing or orally and can be for anything from dismissing charges to postponing a preliminary hearing.

Pretrial Motions :

Here are some examples of pretrial motions:

  • Motion for a Continuance (postponing a preliminary hearing)
  • Motion to Modify or Reduce Bail (change in bail status or reducing bail)
  • Motion to Dismiss Complaint (asking to dismiss an improper complaint)
  • Motion to Reduce Charges (if evidence shows a lesser crime asking that charges be reduced)
  • Motion for Bill of Particulars (learn the basis for the formal charge)
  • Motions for Change of Venue (defense lawyer asked to move case to different location)
  • Motion for Discovery (find out information in the prosecutors’ files if necessary)
  • Motion to Strike a Prior Conviction (defense challenges prior conviction impact on current charges)
  • Motion to Preserve Evidence (making sure prosecutors keep evidence safe until defense runs its own tests)
  • Motion to Disclose Identity of an Informant (defense finds out if there are paid informants who benefit financially or in exchange for reduced charges)
  • Motion to Examine Police Personnel File (defense finds out if police officer has ahistory of wrongdoing)

Motion to Suppress Evidence (defense makes sure evidence obtained improperly is excluded)

  • Motion for a Speedy Trial (defense can ask for this motion if prosecutor keeps postponing trial)

We hope you find this pretrial and court motion information helpful.