What is a motion hearing in criminal court?

A motion hearing in criminal court is a legal proceeding where a judge hears arguments from both the prosecution and defense regarding a specific motion filed by one of the parties. Motions are requests made by either the prosecution or defense asking the judge to take certain actions or make certain decisions before or during a trial.

During a motion hearing, the judge will hear arguments from both sides, review evidence and legal precedent, and make a ruling on the motion. Some common motions heard in criminal court include suppression motions, which ask the judge to exclude certain evidence from the trial, and dismissal motions, which ask the judge to dismiss the case or certain charges.

The outcome of a motion hearing can have a significant impact on a criminal case and may determine what evidence can be used in the trial or whether the case will even proceed to trial. In some cases, a ruling on a motion can even lead to a plea bargain or a dismissal of the case.