What is a “Motion” in Court?
Courts require that all legal proceedings be documented so that there is accountability and a paper (or electronic) trail for everything.
When a party in a case needs to “speak” to the judge, they will do so by filing a motion to the court. Motions are written requests for a judge to issue an order or decision on a specific issue. Motions will also be sent to the opposing party to keep them abreast of all requests.
Some motions may require the judge to set a court hearing before they are able to issue a ruling. In other cases, a judge can issue a written order right away.
There are many types of motions that can be filed with the court, including:
- Motion to Dismiss – This is a request to “throw out,” or dismiss, a case, based on one party’s belief that the matter at hand is not a legal issue over which the court has say.
- Motion for Discovery – These motions allow each party to request discovery, or evidence, from one another.
- Motion to Compel – Motions to compel request a judge to order the other party to take or do a certain action.
- Motion to Strike – This is a request to remove something, often language or information, from the court record if it is believed to be inadmissible.
- Motion in Limine – This special motion requests the court to prevent certain evidence from being presented in the first place, preventing the need for a motion to strike later on.
- Motion to Continue – Motions to continue are requests to move a date of a court hearing to a different day and/or time.
Having an experienced attorney handle your case allows you to be sure that your case is progressing appropriately with all motions being issued as needed and all orders being followed correctly. This can make all the difference to a case’s outcome.
RIDEOUT LAW GROUP
With offices in Lake Havasu City and Scottsdale, our firm serves the entire state of Arizona, with a particular focus on criminal defense, family law, and juvenile cases.
Our goal is for the best outcome for your criminal case, which can include:
- charges that are reduced or dropped.
- top experts reviewing your case.
- aggressive negotiations with the prosecution for plea bargains.
- fines or probation in lieu of jail time.
At Rideout Law Group, our attorneys are able to expertly examine the evidence in your case to provide a strong strategy for argument that leads to an outcome that is most favorable to you. We have experience in all types of criminal cases for both adults and juveniles, with positive outcomes both in plea negotiations as well as jury trial settings.
Call us today for a free consultation at 480-584-3328.