suppression hearing

A suppression hearing is a legal proceeding where a defendant asks a judge to exclude certain evidence from trial. This typically occurs if the evidence was collected illegally or violates the defendant’s rights, such as through improper searches or violations of due process. The judge reviews the circumstances of how the evidence was obtained and decides whether it can be used at trial. If the judge grants the suppression motion, that evidence is excluded, which can significantly impact the case's outcome. The purpose is to ensure that only lawful and admissible evidence is considered during the trial.