What types of motions can be filed in a criminal defense case?

In criminal defense cases, motions are documents filed in court to raise objections or present legal arguments prior to or during a trial. In Texas, there are several types of motions that can be filed in a criminal defense case. First are motions to suppress evidence. These are filed to request that evidence legally obtained by law enforcement officers be suppressed, or excluded, from a trial because it was obtained improperly. For example, if an officer conducted an illegal search or violated the defendant’s rights in some way, a motion to suppress evidence would be filed. Second are motions in limine. These are filed to discuss and limit the scope of evidence that will be admitted at trial and are typically used to limit how much the prosecution can present. For example, if a defendant does not want certain evidence to be used against them they can file a motion in limine to have it excluded. Third are motions to dismiss. These are filed to ask the court to dismiss the case altogether because the prosecution does not have enough evidence to prove the charges. This motion is commonly used for cases where there is insufficient evidence, or the defendant has been charged with a crime they didn’t commit. Finally, there are pretrial motions. These are filed to argue a legal point, or make a constitutional argument prior to the trial and can be used to challenge the validity of the evidence the prosecution is offering or to argue that the defendant’s constitutional rights have been violated. Ultimately, these are just some of the types of motions that can be filed in a criminal defense case in Texas. Depending on the facts and circumstances of each case, lawyers may use different motions to achieve the best possible outcome for their clients.

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What types of motions can be filed in a criminal defense case?

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