Which topic is typically not addressed in a motion hearing?

• A. Suppression of evidence
• B. Bail decisions
• C. Establishing probable cause
• D. Discovery disputes

Answer: (C)

Motion hearings focus on pretrial legal questions that can be decided without going to trial. They commonly deal with suppressing evidence that was gathered in violation of rights, bail decisions about whether the defendant can be released before trial, and disputes over what must be shared in discovery. Establishing probable cause, by contrast, is the standard used to justify arrests and search warrants and is typically addressed in separate proceedings—such as warrant applications or a specific probable cause hearing—rather than in a standard motion hearing. In short, the motion hearing handles legal issues about how the case proceeds, while probable cause questions are resolved in other parts of the pretrial process.