Criminal Procedure Flashcards
arrest warrant
issued by a judge upon a showing of probable cause
probable cause
judge reasonably believes that the person complained against has committed an offense within the trial court judge’s discretion
arrest warrant form requirements:
1) in writing
2) set out the nature of the charge
3) name of the accused (if unknown - “john doe”)
4) order accused to be arrested and brought before a judge
5) dated and signed
6) endorsed with bail amount
arrest without a warrant is available when
1) another officer holds a valid warrant for the suspect’s arrest
2) a felony or misdemeanor is committed in the officer’s presence
3) the officer has PC to believe a felony has been committed
4) the officer has PC for certain enumerated misdemeanors
Notice to Appear is ONLY available for
misdemeanors and violations of city ordinances
Notice to Appear
Arresting officer can issue a notice to appear in lieu of physical arrest for misdemeanors and violations of city ordinances
capias
a bench warrant that is issued by a judge when the D fails to appear in court
(or can be issued when D has had formal charges filed based on information or indictment and is not in custody nor out on bail)
right of first appearance
if arrested you have a right to a first appearance within 24 hours of arrest
what happens at a First Appearance
Arrestee is advised of:
- right to remain silent
- right to counsel
- right to communicate with counsel, family, and friends
Bail is set or arrestee is ROR’ed (released on own recognizance)
released on own recognizance
you are released from jail but you are still individually accountable for arriving at your court date at the appointed date and time
if first appearance did not happen within ____, then what happens?
if it did not happen within 24 hours, then the D must be released BUT can still be tried later
Nonadversary Probable Cause Determination
- must occur within 48 hours (FL allows up to two, 24-hour extensions for exceptional circumstances)
- may be done at the first appearance
- its just the judge and the D
adversary preliminary hearing
a felony D who is in custody for more than 21 days and has not been formally charged has a right to an adversary preliminary hearing
this hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient PC
If time period is 7 days or less
do not count weekends or legal holidays
if time period is LONGER than 7 days
we count weekends and legal holidays but do not start nor end on a weekend or legal holiday, go to the following business day
for the computation of time countdown we do not count
the day of the triggering event
formal charging instruments
indictment or informations
when must formal charging instruments be filed?
Explain the timeline, including any possible extensions judge may give
indictment or informations must be filed within 30 days of arrest
judge may give a 3 days extension
if after 3 days extension, state can show good cause as to why they have not filed charges, they get an extra 7 days
on the 40th day, if no charges still filed, D MUST BE RELEASED, no matter what
all felonies MUST prosecuted by
Informations
capital crimes MUST be prosecuted by
INDICTMENT
Indictment or Information Form Requirements
must be very specific as to the crimes, time, place, manner, and victim
what happens if an indictment or informations form is too vague or distinct?
judge can have them dismissed
arraignment
- in open court
- charges read to D
- D called upon to enter plea of guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere
after an arraignment, D must be given
a reasonable time to prepare for trial
Motion to Dismiss - when do you raise it?
- at or before arraignment (unless the court grants additional time for filing)
- all legal defenses waived if not raised in a timely manner
certain fundamental grounds in a MTD that may be raised at ANY time
DIPP
- double jeopardy
- immunity (D is a diplomat)
- pardon
- prima facie cause of guilty (not show from the facts)
motion to suppress evidence must clearly state
- the particular evidence sought to be suppressed
- the reasons for suppression
- a general statement of the facts on which the motion is based
what must the court do before beginning to take evidence on a motion to suppress evidence?
Court MUST determine legal sufficiency of the evidence
Motion to Suppress Confession or Admission must:
- identify with particularity any statement sought to be suppressed
- state the reasons for suppression
- give a general statement of the facts on which the motion is based
Motion for Judgment of Acquittal (JOA), when is it made?
- made at the close of evidence for the state OR at the close of all evidence
- can also be made within 10 days of a guilty verdict
generally, most post trial motion should be done within
10 DAYS AFTER THE VERDICT
Polling the Jury
post trial motion done at the request of either party where each juror is individually asked if they agree with the verdict
(last chance to make sure juror verdict is unanimous)
Motion for Juror Interview
post trial motion AFTER the jury is dismissed
- must identify the jurors or juror
- state why you believe the verdict may be challenged (usually juror misconduct or some outside matters influenced the verdict)
- after notice and hearing, judge may allow interview
A judges order granting Motion for Juror Interview must include
- the time and place of the interview
- the interview must be conducted in presence of the court and counsel
Motion for Arrest of Judgement of a Verdict
post trial motion to challenge the legal sufficiency of a trial courts judgment
may be granted ONLY IF:
- the charging document is so defective it won’t support the conviction
- court is without jurisdiction
- verdict is too uncertain
- conviction of offense is not support by charging document
Per se grounds for a Motion for New Trial
1) verdict entered by lot (jurors flipped a coin)
2) verdict is contrary to law or weight of evidence
3) new evidence is discovered which is: material; couldn’t have been discovered with reasonable diligence; would probably change the verdict
Trial court MUST grant new trial if:
any of the following grounds is established PLUS substantial rights of the D were prejudiced:
- juror received evidence out of court
- juror is guilty of misconduct
- prosecutor is guilty of misconduct
- juror separated without permission during deliberations
- for any reason beyond Ds control, D did not receive a fair trial
trial should commence for a felony
within 175 days
trial should commence for a misdemeanor
within 90 days
when does the timeline for speedy trial countdown begin
the day of arrest
what waives D right to speedy trial?
any delay caused by or attributable to Defense
once D demands a speedy trial
trial must commence within 50 days from demand
when must retrial after mistrial, order of new trial, or reversal begin?
within 90 days, regardless of whether felony or misdemeanor.
If D makes a demand, within 50 days from the demand
anytime a demand for speedy trial is made
trial must commence within 50 days from the demand