What is a suppression hearing?

A: If your case is not dismissed (or resolved to your satisfaction) at the preliminary hearing, your lawyer might file pretrial motions, resulting in hearings. Some of these motions may argue that using certain evidence against you would violate your constitutional rights. A ruling in your favor can result in evidence being excluded (or “suppressed”) from your trial, which may reduce the prosecution’s odds of winning. For example, statements that you made while in the custody of police, or the results of blood, breath, or field sobriety tests, might be considered by the Court to be inappropriate for a jury to hear because it would be unfair to you and to our system of justice.