Entry
Entries A-Z
Change of Venue
A pretrial motion that requests the transfer of a case from one jurisdiction or court to another. Transfers can be made to differing towns, counties, or states. In high-profile cases, a change of venue may be necessary because an impartial jury will be difficult to select locally. The right to an impartial jury is inherent in the Sixth Amendment and the due process clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth amendments. When cases are highly publicized or emotionally charged, moving the case allows for more juror objectivity and prevents specific bias (i.e., making preconceived decisions regarding the case based on prior knowledge).