Pre-Trial Motions

• Author: Robert K. Gill/Mark G. Daniel
• Pages: 393-470

12-1

CHAPTER 12

PRE-TRIAL MOTIONS

I. General Points

A. Filing Pre-Trial Motions

§12:01 Statutory Law

§12:02 Time Limits

§12:03 Constitutional Issues May Be Filed at Any Time Prior to Trial

B. Pre-Trial Motion Hearings

§12:10 Statutory Law

§12:11 Defendant Must Request Hearing

§12:12 Trial Court Is Not Required to Hold Hearing

II. Challenging and Amending Charging Instruments

A. Motions to Quash

§12:20 Statutory Law

§12:21 Motion Must Be Filed and Heard Before Trial Date

§12:22 Grounds for Challenge

§12:23 Constitutional Challenges

§12:23.1 Statutory Law

§12:23.2 Case Law

B. Amendments

§12:30 Statutory Law

§12:31 Motion Must Be Filed Before Trial Date

§12:32 Procedure to Amend

C. Unknown to Grand Jury Allegations

§12:35 Sufficiency of Notice

Texas Criminal Forms 12-2

III. Change of Venue Motions

§12:40 Statutory Law

§12:41 Timing Deadlines Do Not Apply

§12:42 Motion Must Be Supported by Affidavits

§12:43 Controverting Affidavits

§12:44 Trial Court Must Hold a Hearing

§12:45 Grounds to Prevail on Motion

IV. Speedy Trial Rights

A. Speedy Trial Motions

§12:50 Statutory Law

§12:51 Texas Speedy Trial Act Is Unconstitutional

§12:52 Timing to Assert the Right

§12:53 Necessary Proof

§12:54 Remedy Is Dismissal

B. Right to Speedy Indictment

§12:60 Statutory Law

§12:61 Motion Must Be Filed Before Indictment

§12:62 Continuance Does Not Require Good Cause

§12:63 Trial Court May Dismiss Case

§12:64 Defendant May Still Be Prosecuted

C. Mandamus as Aid to Speedy Trial Rights

§12:70 Defendant May Petition for Writ of Mandamus

§12:71 Mandamus Not Appropriate for Speedy Trial Violations

D. Interstate Agreement on Detainers

§12:80 Statutory Law

§12:81 Burden of Proof

§12:82 Remedies

V. Entrapment

§12:90 Statutory Law

§12:91 General Points

§12:92 Test for Entrapment

VI. Joinder and Severance

§12:100 Statutory Law

§12:101 General Points

§12:102 Timeliness

VII. Identification Challenges

§12:110 Statutory Law

§12:111 General Points

VIII. Testimony Free of Impeachment

§12:120 Statutory Law

§12:121 General Points

§12:122 Motion in Limine (Prior Convictions)

§12:123 Test for Admissibility

IX. Polygraph Examinations

§12:130 Statutory Law

§12:131 General Points

12-3 Pre-Trial moTions

X. The Insanity Defense

§12:140 Statutes on Raising the Defense

§12:141 Notice and Good Cause for Defense

§12:142 Statutes on Compelling an Examination of Defendant

§12:143 Court May Compel an Examination

XI. Transcription by Court Reporter

§12:150 Statutory Law

§12:151 Recording Bench Conferences

XII. Interpreters

§12:160 Statutory Law

§12:161 Non-English Speaking Defendant Is Entitled to an Interpreter

§12:162 Interpreters for Deaf Persons

XIII. Protecting Defendant From Law Enforcement Contact

§12:170 Statutory Law

§12:171 General Points

XIV. Intent to Seek Enhancement of Punishment

§12:180 Prior Conviction Enhancement

§12:181 Deadly Weapon Finding

§12:182 Hate Crime Finding: Statutory Law

§12:183 Hate Crime Finding: State Should Give Written Notice

XV. Fingerprinting and Physical Examinations

§12:190 Fingerprinting Is Allowable and Admissible

§12:191 Physical Examinations

XVI. Death Penalty Cases

§12:200 Statutory Law

XVII. Pretrial Habeas Writs

§12:210 Statutory Law

§12:211 Case Law

XVIII. Forms

Form 12-1 Motion to Allow Additional Pre-Trial Motions

Form 12-2 Motion for Pre-Trial Hearing

Form 12-3.1 Motion to Quash Indictment

Form 12-3.2 Court’s Notice to Texas Attorney General of Challenge to Constitutionality of

State Statute

Form 12-4.1 Motion to Quash Indictment (Lack of Specificity of Deadly Weapon Allegation)

Form 12-4.2 Defendant’s Motion for Hearing to Determine Sufficiency of Notice

Form 12-4.3 Defendant’s Motion to Replace “Unknown to Grand Jury” Allegation

Form 12-5 Brief in Support of Motion to Quash Indictment Based on Statute of Limitations

Form 12-6 Motion to Amend Charging Instrument

Form 12-7 Change of Venue Motion

Form 12-8 Change of Venue Affidavit

Form 12-9 State’s Controverting Motion

Form 12-10 State’s Controverting Affidavit

Form 12-11 Motion for Speedy Trial