Which statement about motion hearings is correct?

• A. They address pretrial issues
• B. They determine guilt
• C. They set sentencing
• D. They hear appeals

Answer: (A)

Motion hearings address pretrial issues in a criminal case. They’re held before trial to allow the judge to decide legal questions that can shape how the trial will proceed—things like suppressing illegally obtained evidence, resolving discovery disputes, or determining whether certain witnesses or evidence will be admissible. Because they occur before a trial, they do not determine guilt, which is decided at trial, nor do they set sentencing, which occurs after a conviction. They also don’t involve reviewing the outcome on appeal, which happens in an appellate proceeding after trial and sentencing.