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Published byTyler Cook Modified over 9 years ago
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Motions to Suppress Professor Beverly Reid O’Connell
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The Law Governed by Penal Code section 1538.5 –Enacted to decrease unnecessary expenditure of time; – Limit the waste of jury time –Give prosecutor appellate reveiw
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The Law Exclusive remedy for Fourth Amendment violations Must be in writing Made by a defendant Seeking to suppress evidence Can suppress tangible or intangible evidence
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Writing Motion must state: –Specific items sought to be suppressed – The factual basis – The legal authorities which demonstrate that the motion should be granted
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Timing Misdemeanors –Must be made pre-trial Preliminary Hearing –Five court days before the preliminary hearing –Personal service on prosecution After Information or Indictment –10 court days before the hearing – Response required 2 court days –No more that 60 days after arraignment on Information –Disfavored during trial
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Tangible v. Intangible Gun Drugs Pay and owe sheets Photographs Etc. Observations of police officers Conversations overheard or recorded Witness testimony Confessions if unlawful arrest
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Standing Defendant must show standing –Property or possessory interest in the place searched or items seized – Right to exclude others – Subjective expectation of privacy – Legitimately on the premises – Objectively reasonable expectation – Fruit of the poisonous tree
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Standing How do you show standing Declaration from Defendant –Declaration cannot be used against a defendant in a later proceeding –Defendant should not have to choose between 4th Am and 5th Am
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Hearing Burden on persuasion on prosecution –Prosecution must justify actions by a preponderance of the evidence Burden of production on defendant Court regulates order of proof Court required to receive “evidence” on issues necessary to determine motion Evidence code applies, e.g., hearsay
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The Art of Motion Practice Written Motion – Identify the disputed and undisputed facts – Identify the applicable law – Argue the facts within the context of the law, and invoke a moral theme – Offer to produce evidence – Request relief
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The Art of Motion Practice The Motion –Research, research, research – Organize important facts, don’t recite police report – Apply law to facts – Evidence, evidence, evidence – Be candid: don’t oversell your position, remember you need to persuade the judge –Be aware of timeliness of motion –Know your burden of proof – Know the local and local, local rules
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The Art of Motion Practice The hearing –Prosecution: call police officer to testify to their observations and training and experience – Defense: Call defendant for the LIMITED purpose of showing the invocation of a right – Witness: corroborate – PREPARE ALL WITNESSES YOU CALL
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The Art of Motion Practice The hearing –State your position – Present your facts persuasively without repeating them (“highlight”) – Present caselaw consistent with your position (“highlight”) –Distinguish opponent’s cases – Apply law to facts BRIEFLY – Restate your position BRIEFLY – Request relief
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The Art of Motion Practice Why not bring a motion –Highlights importance to your case –Less time and effort –Opponent may not have thought about opposing evidence Why bring a motion – Preview your witnesses – Impacts your theory at trial – Adds certainty – Can’t “unring the bell” – Settlement value
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