MOTIONS TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE

A motion to suppress asks the court to exclude evidence from trial because it was obtained in violation of the defendant's constitutional rights often through an illegal search, an improper stop, or a coerced statement. If the motion succeeds, the excluded evidence can't be used against the defendant, which can significantly weaken or even end the State's case. Winning a suppression motion requires a detailed understanding of search and seizure law and a close look at exactly how the evidence was collected, step by step. These motions are technical and fact-specific, which is why timing and preparation matter. Filing the right motion at the right stage of a case can change its entire trajectory. Below, the attorneys at Roth Davies LLC answer common questions about how motions to suppress work and when they may apply to a Kansas criminal case.