Greg Hill & Associates HomeSix Motions to Consider Filing for Rulings Before Trial
The following article covers only a portion of those motions that one ought to consider filing before trial and excludes motions in limine, which are a complex subject better covered separately.
Nonetheless, this article covers six motions that are common, but also often overlooked, often with damaging consequences.
Nonetheless, this article covers six motions that are common, but also often overlooked, often with damaging consequences.
- Motion to Admit Prior Convictions for Crimes of Moral Turpitude to Impeach Witness Credibility. This motion asks the judge to exercise his or her discretion under Evidence Code § 352 to admit such convictions to let the jury hear about prior conduct that could affect the credibility of the witness. People v. Castro (1985) 38 Cal.3d 301. In a way, this can be seen as a motion in limine in reverse, or proactive opposition to a motion in limine by the opposing party.
- Motion to Bar the Prosecutor from Commenting Upon an Accused Invocation of Fifth Amendment Rights. This motion is based on the concept that under the Fifth Amendment of the federal Constitution, a prosecutor is barred from commenting directly or indirectly upon an accused invocation of the constitutional right to silence. People v. Tafoya (2007) 42 Cal.4th 147, citing to Griffin v. California (1965) 380 U.S. 609.
- Aranda, aka Burton Motion. This is a motion to bar the prosecution, where applicable, from introducing a co-defendant’s statement in a joint trial on confrontation grounds, or in the alternative, to sever the defendant’s trial from his co-defendant’s trial. People v. Aranda (1965) 63 Cal.2d 518; Bruton v. United States (1968) 391 U.S. 123; see also People v. Arceo (2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 556 (analyzing issue within the framework of Crawford v. Washington (2004) 541 U.S. 36, perhaps the foremost case on the Sixth Amendment confrontation right).
- Kelly-Frye Motion. This is a motion dealing with scientific evidence or a new scientific technique that may be unreliable. In this regard, the motion asks the judge to order such evidence inadmissible until reliability of the scientific method or expertise of the interpreting witness are established (OK, this is a motion in limine!). People v. Kelly (1976) 17 Cal.3d 24; Frye v. United States (DC Cir. 1923) 293 F. 1013. Federal courts, it should be noted, apply a different test. See Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (1993) 509 U.S. 579.
- Faretta Motion. This is a motion by a defendant to represent himself or herself and act as his or her own lawyer. Judges are reluctant to grant such motions, which are common, because the self-represented person is often not trained in evidence, criminal procedure and may not have the experience needed to make good decisions quickly or anticipate how the trial proceeds. Faretta v. California (1975) 422 U.S. 806.
- Wheeler Motion. This is a motion alleging that the exercise of peremptory challenges to exclude members of a cognizable group in either a criminal or civil trial. It most commonly alleges that African American jurors are excluded based on their skin color and perceived sympathy for defendant or bias against police officers when this is an issue in trial. This motion can be made by the defense or the prosecution, although it is most commonly made by the defense. People v. Wheeler (1978) 22 Cal.3d 258; see also Batson v. Kentucky (1986) 476 U.S. 79.
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