For example, it is routine to demand that the state turn over certain evidence, called discovery. The discovery usually consists of police reports and other items that describe the evidence in the case, at least the state's evidence. In the event that the state withholds discoverable items, it might be necessary to ask the court to order disclosure. The discovery in a criminal case is critically important because it usually expands on the facts in the complaint, and thus provides the defendant with a more complete understanding of the state's case. And, understanding the state's case is the first step in defending against it.
Motions are requests to the court for some form of relief.
If the state fails to establish probable cause at the preliminary hearing, the defendant may move to dismiss the complaint. Or, if the police obtained a statement or other evidence in violation of the defendant's constitutional rights, the defendant may move to suppress the statement or evidence. For example, if the police searched a container without a warrant or an exception to the warrant requirement, the fruits of that search should be thrown out of evidence. The area of motions in a criminal case is complex. There are hundreds of different possible motions depending on the facts of a given case.