Pre-trial discovery and motion practice

• Pages: 33-106
• Author: Jonathan Dichter

PRE-TRIAL DISCOVERY,

MOTION PRACTICE

1-1

CHAPTER 1

PRETRIAL DISCOVERY

AND MOTION PRACTICE

I. INTRODUCTION

II. PRETRIAL DISCOVERY REQUESTS

A. General Points

§1:01 Legal Principles

§1:02 Use of Discovery Request

B. Discovery Demand

§1:03 Sample Discovery Demand: All DUI Cases (Washington State Example)

§1:03.1 Innovation: Renovating the Discovery Request

§1:03.2 Innovation: New Comprehensive Discovery Request

§1:04 Notice of Appearance Discovery Checklist

C. Independent Analysis of Blood Samples

§1:05 Considerations in Retesting

§1:06 Letter to Crime Lab Requesting Forwarding of Blood Sample to Private Lab

§1:07 Letter to Private Lab re Blood Re-Testing

D. Comprehensive Blood Discovery and the Reasons for It

1. General Points

§1:10 Need for Comprehensive Discovery Request

§1:10.1 Resistance of Forensic “Scientists” to Scientific Method

§1:10.2 Courts’ Lack of Understanding of Significance of Testing Data

§1:10.3 Scientific Evidence: Inculpatory or Exculpatory?

§1:10.4 The Scientific Method

§1:10.5 Verification

§1:10.6 Government’s Response to Requests for Data

§1:10.7 Availability of Data Needed for Verification of Blood Test Results

2. Preparation and Knowledge Needed to Use Comprehensive Request

§1:11 Start With a Scaled Request

§1:11.1 Be Prepared to Meet Motion to Quash

3. Scope and Organization of Comprehensive Request

§1:12 Scope of Discovery Request

§1:12.1 Outline of Discovery Request

4. Annotated List of Items to Request

§1:13 General Matters

§1:13.1 Pre- Analytical Matters

§1:13.2 Analytical Matters

§1:13.3 Reporting Matters

PRE-TRIAL DISCOVERY,

MOTION PRACTICE

Innovative DUI Trial Tools 1-2

5. Getting What You Need Directly From the Toxicology Lab

§1:14 Subpoena Duces Tecum to Toxicology Lab

III. MOTIONS BASED ON DEFENDANT’S RIGHT TO COMPULSORY PROCESS

§1:20 Legal Principles

§1:21 Inspection of Breath Machine

§1:22 Motion for Subpoena Duces Tecum for Breath Machine

§1:23 Memorandum in Support of Motion for Subpoena Duces Tecum for Breath Machine

§1:24 Statement of Facts in Support of Motion for Subpoena Duces Tecum for Breath Machine

IV. DUE PROCESS AND MOTIONS IN LIMINE

A. General Points

§1:30 Legal Principles

§1:31 Defendant’s Motion in Limine (General Example)

B. Partition Ratios

§1:40 Admissibility of Testimony Regarding Blood/Breath Partition Ratios

§1:41 Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Motion in Limine to Introduce Partition Ratio Evidence

C. Tolerance

§1:50 Precluding Evidence of Tolerance

§1:51 Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Motion in Limine to Exclude Evidence of Tolerance

D. Retrograde Extrapolation

§1:60 Precluding Evidence of Retrograde Extrapolation

§1:61 Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Motion in Limine to Preclude Evidence of

Retrograde Extrapolation

E. Prosecutorial Misconduct

§1:70 Precluding Prosecutorial Misconduct

§1:71 Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Motion in Limine to Preclude Prosecutorial Misconduct

F. Field Sobriety Tests

§1:80 Precluding Field Sobriety Test Evidence

§1:81 Memorandum in Support of Defendant ’s Motion in Limine to Preclude Field Sobriety Test Evidence

§1:82 Motion to Suppress FST Evidence—Lack of Relevance to Case in Chief

§1:83 Motion to Suppress FST Evidence—Lack of Strict Compliance with NHTSA Standardization

§1:84 Motion to Suppress Refusal of FSTs

G. Averages

§1:85 Motion to Preclude Use of “Average” Evidence and Testimony

H. Interrogation and Observation Periods

§1:86 Motion to Suppress Breath Testing Results or to Dismiss

V. CREATING YOUR OWN DATABASE

§1:90 How to Create

§1:91 Using Your Information

§1:92 Innovation: a New Database Technique

DIGITAL ACCESS

1-03 Sample Discovery Demand All DUI Cases

1-04 Notice of Appearance Discovery Checklist

1-06 Letter to Crime Lab Forward Blood to Private Lab

1-07 Letter to Private Lab Blood Re-Testing

1-14 Subpoena Duces Tecum to Toxicology Lab

1-22 Motion for Subpoena Duces Tecum for Breath Machine

1-23 Memorandum in Support of Motion for Subpoena Duces Tecum for Breath Machine

1-24 Statement of Facts in Support of Motion for Subpoena Duces Tecum for Breath Machine

1-31 Defendant’s Motion In Limine

1-41 Memorandum Support of Defendant’s Motion Introduce Partition Ratio Evidence

1-51 Memorandum Support Defendant’s Motion Exclude Tolerance Evid

PRE-TRIAL DISCOVERY,

MOTION PRACTICE

1-3 Pre-Trial Discovery and Motion Practice

1-61 Memorandum Support Defendant’s Motion Preclude Retrograde Extrapolation Evidence

1-71 Memorandum Support Defendant’s Motion Preclude Prosecutorial Misconduct

1-81 Memorandum Support Defendant’s Motion Preclude Field Sobriety Test Evidence

1-85 Motion in Limine to Exclude Expert Opinion and Scientific Test Results