why prosecuting attorney change venue

by Brendon Kunde 5 min read

If you are a defendant in a criminal case, the law guarantees you the right to a fair trial. If the location where your trial is to be held could possibly jeopardize this right, your attorney may file a Motion for Change of Venue. If granted, the case will be tried in a different location where you are more likely to receive fair treatment.

If the location where your trial is to be held could possibly jeopardize this right, your attorney may file a Motion for Change of Venue. If granted, the case will be tried in a different location where you are more likely to receive fair treatment.

Full Answer

How do you change the venue of a court case?

Feb 17, 2022 · A motion to change venue is one of many motions that may be filed before trial in a criminal case. A change of venue motion seeks to have the trial held in a different location. The motion may be filed by either the prosecuting attorney or the defense attorney. Using the LexisNexis research database through the Shapiro Library portal, locate a criminal court case …

What are the reasons for a change of venue?

Jun 20, 2016 · There are cases that are famous (or infamous) in a particular locality, and a party may wish to change venue so that jurors are less likely to have heard of the case and, therefore, be unbiased. Each state and the federal jurisdiction have their own rules concerning venue, so be sure to check your local statutes or consult with an attorney to find out where you should bring …

Can a judge decide to change the venue after voir dire?

Just because you don’t like a judge is not a reason to change the courthouse or location. If your attorney feels that a judge is prejudiced against you after you discuss it with him or her, they can file a 170.6 Motion which is a motion to recuse that particular judge. You can do that one time in a …

What happens if a defendant doesn't change the venue before trial?

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What are proper reasons to request a change in venue?

Reasons for changes of venue include pretrial publicity, bias, political atmosphere, and any other circumstance that the parties believe would prevent them from obtaining a fair trial in the county in which the case was originally filed.

Why does the venue for the criminal prosecution matter?

Venue is a fact that the prosecution must prove. Beyond this, rules as to the proof of venue vary among jurisdictions. Some states have a statutory presumption that venue is proper in the absence of contrary evidence. The federal rule is that venue may be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.

When an attorney requests a change of venue the attorney is asking?

When an attorney requests a change of venue they are asking: to move the trial from one state to another due to the potential unfairness of a trial in the first state. A change of venue is a request to move a trial to a different physical location in order to effect fairness and justice.

WHY IS venue important in a criminal case?

The concept of venue involves important issues of public policy in the adjudication of crimes. Local and general statutes specify the court in which a criminal offense or civil claim must be tried. ... If a trial is held in an improper court, the defendant cannot later complain if he has failed to request a change.

What is the purpose of venue?

Venue, simply, is the place of trial or geographical location in which an action or proceeding should be brought.Nov 9, 2020

What determines venue?

Venue is the location where a civil or criminal case is decided. In state courts, venue is decided by where the plaintiff or defendant lives or does business. It can also be decided based on the location of witnesses or even the court.Aug 30, 2021

What's the difference between venue and jurisdiction?

While jurisdiction says in what state and what court you file your lawsuit, “venue” is the county where you file your action.

Which one of the following is a disadvantage of arbitration over litigation?

Terms in this set (10) Which one of the following is a disadvantage of arbitration over litigation? ... Arbitrators often are unspecialized and do not know about the subject matter they are arbitrating.

Can you switch court locations?

What if you both move away? If the venue you originally chose for your family law case is no longer a convenient location, you can petition the court to transfer your case somewhere else. This applies to: Divorce, domestic partnership dissolution, or legal separation cases.Jun 15, 2021

Why is circumstantial evidence important?

Circumstantial evidence allows a trier of fact to infer that a fact exists. In criminal law, the inference is made by the trier of fact to support the truth of an assertion (of guilt or absence of guilt). Reasonable doubt is tied into circumstantial evidence as that evidence relies on inference.

What is the general rule for the purpose of determining venue of trial?

Following the old rule of English common law pertaining to the "venue" of a trial, section 177 provides that every offence shall ordinarily be inquired into and tried by a court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the offence was committed.

What is venue in criminal procedure?

In other words, the venue of action and of jurisdiction are deemed sufficiently alleged where the Information states that the offense was committed or some of its essential ingredients occurred at a place within the territorial jurisdiction of the court.Jun 22, 2015

What is venue in a criminal case?

The venue in a criminal case is the court that will hear the matter. In a typical case, jurisdiction would rest with a state, while venue would lie in a particular county—usually the county where the crime occurred. But a defendant can request that her trial move to another county. And if there's a reasonable likelihood ...

Can a court change venue?

Courts are reluctant to change venue, and defendants can usually get only one venue change. Changing venue can affect the entire case. Further, the law on venue change may vary from state to state and from state to federal court. So, it's crucial to rely on an experienced attorney for explanation and advice.

Why do people change their venue?

But some publicity won't justify a venue change—the publicity has to be severe enough to the point that it affects the ability to find an impartial jury. (Lawyers often refer to publicity having "tainted" the jury pool.)

What is an affidavit?

An affidavit is a written statement of facts that the "affiant" (person making the statement) swears to be true. An affidavit typically requires a signature and usually includes language acknowledging that the affiant is open to prosecution for perjury if any assertions aren't true.

Can a defendant have a fair trial?

But a defendant doesn't have the right to a trial in the county of his choice. Circumstances that make juror impartiality unlikely can, however, arise. In those circumstances, defense attorneys often "move" to have the trial take place somewhere else. (In most states, the prosecution can't request a change of venue.)

Can a judge change the venue of a trial without a request?

Normally, in order to seek a venue change, the defense must file a written motion with affidavits demonstrating why the defendant can't receive a fair trial. Some states, though, allow the judge to change venue without a request.

Is changing venue a constitutional right?

The ability to change venue is related to the constitutional right to a fair trial, but it itself isn't considered a constitutional right. Instead, it's a privilege that's capable of being waived. The effect is that, in most states, if a defendant doesn't move for a change of venue before the designated stage, he's lost the right to challenge venue and can't raise the issue on appeal.

What is a motion for change of venue?

A motion for change of venue ensures that a case is heard in the best location. There are two basic requirements that must be met before a court can hear a case. The first is jurisdiction, which means that the court has the authority to decide the legal issues which affect the rights of the parties in the case.

Can a real estate case be heard in the same county?

Cases that involve real estate usually must be heard by the court in the same county as the real estate. Sometimes a case is filed in a court that is too far for one of the parties to travel, and was done so deliberately to make it difficult for the parties to participate in the case. In these circumstances, the affected party could probably successfully seek to have venue changed.

What is the procedure for changing venue?

When one party wants to change venue, she must file a motion for change of venue. Most jurisdictions have strict requirements for the motion, which can be found in that jurisdiction's rules of procedure. Usually a memorandum of law must accompany this motion, which lays out all law and the arguments for why the venue should be moved.

Limited Circumstances to Change Venue

What you have to realize though, is there are only limited circumstances where you can change the venue, and they really center around you being able to mount an argument or prove that the jurisdiction or location where your case is pending may have some sort of bias towards you – maybe the media covered your case and everybody knows about it – and that may somehow negatively impact your case..

Real Case Example of Changing Venue

Examples of cases where the jurisdiction had to be changed, for example – there was a case years ago where an attorney’s dog had attacked and killed somebody in San Francisco.

Peremptory Challenges to a Judge in California

So, it really just depends on what’s going on with the case what the circumstances are. Just because you don’t like a judge is not a reason to change the courthouse or location.

Filing Motion to Recuse Judge or Prosecutor

Obviously, I listen to you and if you have a good venue argument then we can try to file a motion or we can do a motion to recuse the judge or the prosecutor, or some other vehicle that makes sense having to do with the facts and circumstances surrounding your case.

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Change needed?

  • Someone accused of a crime generally has the right to a fair trial by an impartial jury. But a defendant doesn't have the right to a trial in the county of his choice. Circumstances that make juror impartiality unlikely can, however, arise. In those circumstances, defense attorneys often "move" to have the trial take place somewhere else. (In most states, the prosecution can't reque…
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Grounds For Change

  • To achieve a change of venue, defendants typically have to show a reasonable likelihood that they can't receive a fair trial. That reasonable likelihood is usually due to pretrial publicity, but it could have to do with some other event making it almost impossible to find an impartial jury. Venue changes can also happen when the current venue is simply the wrong one. For instance, if the cr…
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Requesting A Change

  • Normally, in order to seek a venue change, the defense must file a written motion with affidavits demonstrating why the defendant can't receive a fair trial. Some states, though, allow the judge to change venue without a request. Judges usually decide motions to change venue because of bad publicity after voir dire. Judges are typically afforded significant leeway in deciding whether to c…
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Waiver

  • The ability to change venue is related to the constitutional right to a fair trial, but it itself isn't considered a constitutional right. Instead, it's a privilege that's capable of being waived. The effect is that, in most states, if a defendant doesn't move for a change of venue before the designated stage, he's lost the right to challenge venue and can't raise the issue on appeal.
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Consult An Attorney

  • Courts are reluctant to change venue, and defendants can usually get only one venue change. Changing venue can affect the entire case. Further, the law on venue change may vary from state to state and from state to federal court. So, it's crucial to rely on an experienced attorney for explanation and advice.
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