What is the purpose of a motion to suppress evidence in criminal cases?

A motion to suppress evidence in criminal cases is an important tool that allows the defense to challenge the validity of evidence gathered, usually by the police, in connection with a criminal investigation. Motion to suppress evidence is a request to the court to prevent certain evidence from being presented by the prosecution at trial. The purpose of a motion to suppress evidence is to keep unreliable or illegally obtained evidence from being used as part of the prosecution’s case. When the defense attorney makes a motion to suppress evidence, they are essentially arguing that the police have gone beyond their legal authority in gathering the evidence or that the evidence was obtained in violation of the suspect’s Fourth Amendment rights. If the court agrees that the evidence was illegally gathered or that the suspect’s constitutional rights were violated, the evidence may be suppressed and not used in court. By filing a motion to suppress evidence, the defense is seeking to limit the amount of evidence the prosecution can present at trial. This can help the defendant, as it reduces the strength of the prosecution’s case and can, in turn, increase the likelihood of an acquittal. In addition, the motion serves to protect the defendant’s constitutional rights by ensuring that their right to privacy is not violated by the illegal collection of evidence.

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