What are Motions?

MOTIONS ARE ATTORNEYS ASKING THE JUDGE TO DECIDE ON SPECIFIC ISSUES BEFORE PROCEEDING.

If the other side’s lawyer asks an unfair question, your Attorney can file a Motion to reject it. Motions are basically requests for a small ruling within the Trial. Your Attorney may say something like, “Objection, I move to strike that question.”

In plain English, this basically means they want to skip the question that was asked. Sometimes, the Judge decides on these things right away. However, sometimes they are incredibly crucial, and those can take a really long time. For example, while some Motions may only alter a sentence or two, some Motions can throw out an entire case. The time needed depends on the request, response, and the schedule of the court.

HOW LONG DOES THIS PROCESS TAKE?

To be frank, Motions can be one of the main reasons Litigation drags on, and Clients are usually frustrated at their lack of involvement. Do your best to stay attentive and ready to proceed, and communicate regularly with your legal team to understand where you are in the process.