Verified by Licensed Bail Bond Professionals•Last updated: March 2026
Definition: A pretrial motion asking the court to exclude specific evidence from trial because it was obtained illegally — typically through an unlawful search, seizure, or interrogation that violated the defendant's constitutional rights.
Category: Court Process · Statute: Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.190 · Source: Florida Legislature
Common Grounds for Suppression
- Illegal search — No warrant, no consent, no exception
- Defective warrant — Missing probable cause, wrong address
- Miranda violation — Statements obtained without proper Miranda warnings
- Illegal stop — Traffic stop or detention without reasonable suspicion
- Chain of custody break — Evidence may have been tampered with
Impact on Case
If key evidence is suppressed, the prosecution may not have enough remaining evidence to proceed. This often leads to charge reduction or dismissal.