How do you win a motion hearing?

Asked by: Prof. Parker Smith II  |  Last update: August 30, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (13 votes)

With this in mind, the best way to win the motion is to be sure your submission succinctly captures the story of the case. You start with your table of contents (often the very first thing the court reads) ensuring that it logically and persuasively tells the story of the case.

How to prepare for a motion to dismiss a hearing?

At the hearing on the motion, be prepared to present your arguments concisely and forcefully, as well as respond to the plaintiff's likely counterarguments. Many times the court will issue a tentative ruling before the hearing–if so, be sure you are intimately familiar with it and can tailor your arguments accordingly.

How does a judge rule on a motion?

A judge will make his/her decision on a motion based on the law that applies, the facts of the situation, and the arguments made by the parties for, and against, the motion.

What to expect in a motion hearing?

Navigating the motion hearing process

The party who filed the motion, often known as the “movant,” presents their arguments first. The movant will outline the legal basis for the motion, reference relevant laws or precedents, and present any supporting evidence or documents to bolster their position.

How to argue against a motion?

If one party to a case has filed a motion with the court, the other side can file an “opposition.” An “opposition” is a written statement explaining to the judge why the other side is not entitled to whatever he is asking for in his motion. It is your opportunity to oppose the other side's request.

How To Control Judges and Win in Court

26 related questions found

How do you win a motion in court?

How to Write a Kick-Ass Motion
  1. Make an Outline. ...
  2. Keep Your Motion Simple. ...
  3. Maintain Credibility. ...
  4. Mind Your Citations. ...
  5. Focus on Facts. ...
  6. Keep Your Intro Short. ...
  7. Respect the Opposition. ...
  8. Write in English, Not Legalese.

What is the first way argument from motion?

The Argument from Motion: Our senses can perceive motion by seeing that things act on one another. Whatever moves is moved by something else. Consequently, there must be a First Mover that creates this chain reaction of motions. This is God.

How long do motion hearings last?

Motion Hearings: These hearings occur when one party in the case wants the judge to make a decision on a specific aspect of the case before the trial. They can vary in length, often taking anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the complexity of the motion being discussed.

What happens when a motion is denied?

The court will then decide as to whether the motion is granted or denied. If the motion is granted, it means that the document or proceeding in question is declared invalid or void. If the motion is denied, the document or proceeding remains in effect, and the case or legal process will continue.

What types of things do motion ask the court to do?

A motion is an application to the court made by the prosecutor or defense attorney, requesting that the court make a decision on a certain issue before the trial begins. The motion can affect the trial, courtroom, defendants, evidence, or testimony. Only judges decide the outcome of motions.

Do judges read motions?

If you are referring to motions on legal issues the judge will review them in the course of the hearing or trial. If you are referring to documents to be submitted as evidence the judge may rule on their relevance and/or admissibility prior to going forward .

What happens after a motion to dismiss is granted?

Ruling on a Motion To Dismiss

If the court grants the motion, it can dismiss the case either with or without prejudice. If the court grants the motion and dismisses the case “without prejudice," the plaintiff can fix the deficiencies in the complaint and file it again.

What is an example of a motion to suppress evidence?

WHEREFORE, the Defendant respectfully requests the Court to grant this motion and suppress any and all evidence seized and/or obtained from the client, including all items found in his vehicle, any and all written and oral statements made by him, and the observations of the officers.

What is the success rate of motions to dismiss?

Indeed, motions to dismiss are filed in almost all securities cases, with an approximately 50% success rate.

How do you survive a motion to dismiss?

In other words, “[t]o survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.

What does it mean when a motion is granted?

The judge will either grant or deny the motion. If it is granted, the case is over and the defendant wins. If the motion is denied, as it usually is, the defense is given the opportunity to present its evidence.

What is the success rate of motions to reconsider?

This is roughly a 5 percent success rate for all motions. Of the requests related to the initial institution decision, only 3.5 percent (six of 169) have been successful.

What happens if there is no second to a motion?

A motion requires a second to be considered. If there is no second, the matter is not considered. Each motion must be disposed of (passed, defeated, tabled, referred to committee, or postponed indefinitely).

How to argue a motion in court?

Preparing Your Oral Argument

In planning your presentation, make sure to highlight and make a theme of your case's merits. But also anticipate problems for your side and prepare responses to questions the judges are likely to ask or to issues that opposing counsel is likely to raise in his or her presentation.

How to prove you were not served properly?

Surveillance: You can provide surveillance footage showing you were not served at the alleged date or that the service was improper. Mail Records: If there's no mail delivered to you or if you haven't signed the receipt. It can indicate improper service.

Why do hearings take so long?

The court has a large amount of discretion in scheduling matters and given the limited resources of our judicial system, it is not surprising that delays happen. Also contributing to the traffic jams in our courts are the sheer number of cases and the shortage of judges.

How to file a motion in court without an attorney?

If you want to file a motion, the process is generally something like this:
  1. You write your motion.
  2. You file your motion with the court clerk.
  3. The court clerk inserts the date and time your motion will be heard by the judge.
  4. You “serve” (mail) your motion to the other side.

What are the five proofs?

Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways to Prove the Existence of God
  • The First Way: Motion.
  • The Second Way: Efficient Cause.
  • The Third Way: Possibility and Necessity.
  • The Fourth Way: Gradation.
  • The Fifth Way: Design.

What is the first question of motion?

The first equation of motion is v = u +at. Here, v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration and t is the time. The velocity-time relation gives the first equation of motion and can be used to find acceleration.

What is an example of an argument of motion?

Argument from Motion: Explained

As discussed in the introduction, objects have two states of being: potential being and actual being. A piece of wood has the potentially to becoming a table, but until a carpenter carves it, its actuality is that of wood.