What is a motion for a change of venue in criminal defense law?

A motion for a change of venue in criminal defense law is a request from the defense team to move the trial from the original court that the criminal case was brought to, to another court in a different jurisdiction. In Mississippi, this motion is granted to the defense if it is believed that a fair trial cannot be obtained in the original court because the public or jurors in that court are prejudiced against the defendant. Often, this motion is granted if there is an extensive amount of media coverage in the local area of the trial or a large amount of public opinion is strongly against the defendant. In this case, the defense would argue that the public or jury could be biased just by hearing the name of the defendant or by knowing the details of the case. A motion for a change of venue is also granted if there is a conflict of interest with a person on the jury or if there is a potential of danger for the defendant in the jurisdiction where the trial was originally to be held. This motion is to ensure that the defendant receives a fair trial.

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What is a motion for a change of venue in criminal defense law?

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