Opinion ID: 1096180
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 42

Heading: pre-trialpretrial motions and defenses

Text: RULE 3.190. PRE-TRIALPRETRIAL MOTIONS (a) Pre-Trial Motions iIn General. Every pre-trialpretrial motion and pleading in response to a motion shall be in writing and signed by the party making the motion or the attorney for the party. This requirement may be waived by the court for good cause shown. Each such motion or other pleading shall state the ground or grounds on which it is based. A copy shall be served on the adverse party's attorney before the time the original is filed. A certificate of service must accompany the filing of any such pleading. (b) Motion to Dismiss.; Grounds. All defenses available to a defendant by plea, other than not guilty, shall be made only by motion to dismiss the indictment or information, whether the same shall relate to matters of form, substance, former acquittal, former jeopardy, or any other defense. (c) Time for Moving to Dismiss. Unless the court grants him further time, the defendant shall move to dismiss the indictment or information either before or upon arraignment. The court in its discretion may permit the defendant to plead and thereafter to file a motion to dismiss at a time to be set by the court. Except for objections based upon fundamental grounds, every ground for a motion to dismiss whichthat is not presented by a motion to dismiss within the time hereinabove provided for shall be taken to have been waived. However, the court may at any time entertain a motion to dismiss on any of the following grounds: (1) The defendant is charged with an offense for which hethe defendant has been pardoned; or. (2) The defendant is charged with an offense of which hethe defendant has previously been placed in jeopardy; or. (3) The defendant is charged with an offense for which hethe defendant has previously been granted immunity; or. (4) There are no material disputed facts and the undisputed facts do not establish a prima facie case of guilt against the defendant. The facts on which such motion is based should be specifically alleged and the motion sworn to. (d) Traverse or Demurrer. The Sstate may traverse or demur to a motion to dismiss whichthat alleges factual matters. Factual matters alleged in a motion to dismiss shall be deemed admitted unless specifically denied by the Sstate in suchthe traverse. The court may receive evidence on any issue of fact necessary to the decision on the motion. A motion to dismiss under paragraphsubdivision (c)(4) of this rule shall be denied if the Sstate files a traverse whichthat with specificity denies under oath the material fact or facts alleged in the motion to dismiss. SuchThe demurrer or traverse shall be filed a reasonable time before the hearing on the motion to dismiss. (e) Effect of Sustaining a Motion to Dismiss. If the motion to dismiss is sustained, the court may order that the defendant be held in custody or admitted to bail for a reasonable specified time pending the filing of a new indictment or information. If a new indictment or information is not filed within the time specified in the order, or within such additional time as the court may allow for good cause shown, the defendant, if in custody, shall be discharged therefrom, unless some other charge justifies a continuation in custody. If hethe defendant has been released on bail, hethe defendant and histhe sureties shall be exonerated; if money or bonds have been deposited as bail, such money or bonds shall be refunded. (f) Order Dismissing. For the purpose of construing Ssection 924.07(1), Florida Statutes (1969), the statutory term order quashing shall be taken and held to mean order dismissing. (g) Motion for Continuance. (1) Definition. A continuance within the meaning of this rule is the postponement of a cause for any period of time. (2) Cause. The court on motion of the Sstate or a defendant or upon its own motion may in its discretion for good cause shown grant a continuance. (3) Time for Filing. A motion for continuance may be made only before or at the time the case is set for trial, unless good cause for failure to so apply is shown or unless the ground for the motion arose after the cause was set for trial. (4) Certificate of Good Faith. A motion for continuance shall be accompanied by a certificate of the movant's counsel that the motion is made in good faith. (5) Affidavits. The party applying for a continuance may file affidavits in support of histhe motion, and the adverse party may file counter-affidavits in opposition to the motion. (h) Motion to Suppress Evidence in Unlawful Search. (1) Grounds. A defendant aggrieved by an unlawful search and seizure may move to suppress anything so obtained for use as evidence because: 1.(A) Tthe property was illegally seized without a warrant, or; 2.(B) Tthe warrant is insufficient on its face, or; 3.(C) Tthe property seized is not that described in the warrant, or; 4.(D) Tthere was no probable cause for believing the existence of the grounds on which the warrant was issued,; or 5.(E) Tthe warrant was illegally executed. (2) Contents of Motion. Every motion to suppress evidence shall clearly state the particular evidence sought to be suppressed, the reasons for suppression, and a general statement of the facts on which the motion is based. (3) Hearing. Before hearing evidence, the court shall determine if the motion is legally sufficient. If it is not, the motion shall be denied. If the court hears the motion on its merits, the defendant shall present evidence supporting histhe defendant's position, and the Sstate may offer rebuttal evidence. (4) Time for Filing. The motion to suppress shall be made before trial unless opportunity therefor did not exist or the defendant was not aware of the grounds for the motion, but the court may entertain the motion or an appropriate objection at the trial. (i) Motion to Suppress a Confession or Admissions Illegally Obtained. (1) Grounds. UponOn motion of the defendant or upon its own motion, the court shall suppress any confession or admission obtained illegally from the defendant. (2) Time for Filing. The motion to suppress shall be made prior to trial unless opportunity therefor did not exist or the defendant was not aware of the grounds for the motion, but the court in its discretion may entertain the motion or an appropriate objection at the trial. (3) Hearing. The court shall receive evidence on any issue of fact necessary to be decided in order to rule on the motion. (j) Motion to Take Deposition to Perpetuate Testimony. (1) After an indictment or information upon which a defendant is to be tried is filed, the defendant or the Sstate may apply for an order to perpetuate testimony. The application shall be verified or supported by the affidavits of credible persons that a prospective witness resides beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the court or may be unable to attend or be prevented from attending a trial or hearing, that histhe witness's testimony is material, and that it is necessary to take histhe deposition to prevent a failure of justice. The court shall order a commission to be issued to take the deposition of the witnesses to be used in the trial and that any designated books, papers, documents, or tangible objects, not privileged, be produced at the same time and place. If the application is made within ten10 days before the trial date, the court may deny the application. (2) If the defendant or the Sstate desires to perpetuate the testimony of a witness living in or out of the Sstate whose testimony is material and necessary to the case, the same proceedings shall be followed as provided in the preceding subdivision, but the testimony of the witness may be taken before an official court reporter, transcribed by himthe reporter, and filed in the trial court. (3) If the deposition is taken on the application of the Sstate, the defendant and histhe defendant's attorney shall be given reasonable notice of the time and place set for the deposition. The officer having custody of the defendant shall be notified of the time and place and shall produce the defendant at the examination and keep himthe defendant in the presence of the witness during the examination. A defendant not in custody may be present at the examination, but histhe failure to appear after notice and tender of expenses shall constitute a waiver of the right to be present. The Sstate shall pay to the defendant's attorney and to a defendant not in custody the expenses of travel and subsistence for attendance at the examination. The Sstate shall make available to the defendant for his examination and use at the deposition any statement of the witness being deposed that is in the possession of the Sstate and that the Sstate would be required to make available to the defendant if the witness were testifying at trial. (4) The application and order to issue the commission may be made either in term time or in vacation. The commission shall be issued at a time to be fixed by the court. (5) Except as otherwise provided, the rules governing the taking and filing of oral depositions, the objections thereto, the issuing, execution, and return of the commission, and the opening of the depositions in civil actions shall apply in criminal cases. (6) No deposition shall be used or read into the evidence when the attendance of the witnesses can be procured. If it shall appear to the court determines that any person whose deposition has been taken has absented himself byis absent because of procurement, inducement, or threats of any person on behalf of the Sstate or of the defendant or of any person on histhe defendant's behalf, the depositions shall not be read in evidence on behalf of the defendant.