Motion Practice

• Author: Deja Vishny
• Pages: 91-114

2-1

CHAPTER 2

Motion Practice

I. BEFORE THE HEARING

A. Develop a Legal Theory

§2:01 Decide What Issues to Raise

Once you get a case and review it, it is time to begin drafting motions. Ideally, you will have reviewed the discovery,

interviewed your client, interviewed defense witnesses and conducted whatever other defense investigation needs to be



you may have to draft your motions without completing these preliminary steps.





in depth and determine how the facts in your particular case intersect with the law.

Practice Pointer:









properly served with a subpoena or disregard it, resulting in the granting of the motion, the dismissal of the case,





although you will lose the motion, the prosecutor may realize the trial evidence isn’t as strong as she presumed



face, this is a fruitful area of litigation, and you can often achieve great results for your clients in suppression





§2:02 Share Ideas with Colleagues

-

times challenging for solo practitioners, but most states have local criminal defense associations that maintain listserves











§2:03 Do Your Research





constitutional principles, such as Miranda v. Arizona and Terry v. Ohio



in your jurisdiction, that are on point and will guide the judge to a favorable decision in your case.

§2:04 2-2





Miranda







guides with sample motions and briefs that are pertinent to the law in your jurisdiction. Learned treatises on suppression

Search and Seizure,

Search and Seizure













of long standing blogs or websites you can use for research are:

• www.fourthamendment.com

 

 

 

 





§2:04 Cope with Adverse Law

















It is easy to be tempted to ignore this rule when you are writing and arguing motions, reasoning that you are not



out that you have misrepresented the law and you will forever lose your credibility before that court and probably others



the case and explaining to the court why the facts in your case can be distinguished and the case law is inapplicable

to your particular client.





you are under no obligation to cite it and to do so would be to undermine your duty to zealously advocate on behalf of



case, and be ready to provide the court with a reason that another jurisdiction’s case law should be rejected.

B. Draft Motions









