Georgia DUI Pre-Trial Motions

Following the preliminary hearing is a court process known as a pre-trial motion. This occurs before the criminal case goes to trial. At a pre-trial motion, the prosecutor and the defense team appear before a criminal court judge and make pre-trial motions. Pre-trial motions are arguments that certain evidence should be kept out of the trial, that certain persons must or cannot testify, or that the case should be dismissed altogether.

The government and the defense use pre-trial motions as a way to set boundaries for trial, should one take place. For example, what physical evidence and testimony can be used? What legal arguments can and cannot be made? Is there any reason that the defendant should not be forced to stand trial?

Pre-trial motions can have endless arguments. Here are some examples of pre-trial motions that might be made in a criminal case:

•  The defense asks the judge to dismiss the case against the defendant altogether. They may argue that the police did not have "probable cause" to arrest the defendant or that insufficient evidence exists for any reasonable jury to find the defendant guilty.

•  The defense argues that the police officer did not read the defendant the required Miranda Rights.

•  The prosecutor may argue against a defendant's witness, saying that they were not sober and cannot be used as competent testimony. They may ask that the witness should be excluded as a witness at trial.

While these specific arguments may not relate to your case, these are the types of proceedings you can expect during a pre-trial motion. One of our attorneys at the Law Offices of Webb, Willis, and Kohn will be with you to help you through this process.