Control What Evidence Reaches the Jury

Setra Law Firm, PC represents clients facing criminal charges when the prosecution seeks to introduce evidence that is legally inadmissible or unfairly prejudicial. You have the right to a trial that focuses on the specific conduct alleged in the charging document, not on unrelated prior acts, character evidence, or inflammatory material that has no bearing on whether you committed the offense. A motion in limine is a pretrial request asking the court to prohibit certain evidence from being mentioned in front of the jury. A motion for severance asks the court to separate co-defendants or charges so that you are not prejudiced by evidence that applies only to someone else or to a different allegation.



These motions are strategic tools that shape the narrative before the jury is seated. For instance, if the state intends to introduce evidence of an unrelated arrest, a past conviction, or conduct that did not result in charges, your attorney can argue that such evidence serves only to suggest bad character rather than to prove the current offense. Similarly, when multiple defendants are charged together, evidence admissible against one person may be highly prejudicial to another. Severance allows each defendant to be tried separately, ensuring that the jury evaluates only the evidence relevant to that individual.

If your case involves co-defendants, prior allegations, or evidence you believe should not be presented to a jury, reach out to Setra Law Firm, PC to discuss pretrial motions that limit what the jury will hear.

Your attorney prepares motions in limine by reviewing the state's witness list, the discovery provided by the prosecution, and any prior rulings in similar cases. Each motion identifies a specific category of evidence and explains why it is inadmissible under the Texas Rules of Evidence. Common targets include hearsay, opinion testimony from lay witnesses, references to polygraph results, and evidence of extraneous offenses.



When the court grants a motion in limine, the prosecution is prohibited from mentioning that evidence during trial unless the court changes its ruling. Setra Law Firm, PC uses these motions to prevent the jury from hearing information that could bias their view of the case before any testimony is given. The result is a cleaner trial record and a more focused presentation of the facts.

Severance motions are particularly important in cases involving conspiracy, organized criminal activity, or multi-defendant drug cases. Even if the court does not grant severance, the motion creates a record showing that you were prejudiced by the joinder, which can be critical on appeal. Your attorney will argue that severance is necessary to ensure a fair trial and that any efficiency gained by trying defendants together is outweighed by the risk of improper association.

Here are answers to questions clients often ask about motions in limine and severance.

It prevents the prosecution from introducing or referencing inadmissible evidence in front of the jury, ensuring that the trial focuses only on legally relevant facts.

What is the purpose of a motion in limine?

It should be filed as soon as you know you are being tried with a co-defendant whose case involves evidence that does not apply to you or that could prejudice the jury against you.

When should a severance motion be filed?

Prior convictions, unrelated allegations, character evidence, hearsay statements, and references to conduct that did not result in charges are frequent targets of these motions.

What types of evidence are commonly excluded?

Why does this matter in Odessa?

In Odessa, multi-defendant cases are common in drug and gang-related prosecutions, and severance can be the difference between a fair trial and guilt by association.

The judge weighs the probative value of the evidence against the risk of unfair prejudice and considers whether the evidence is relevant to the charge you are facing.

How does the court decide these motions?

Setra Law Firm, PC files pretrial motions designed to control the scope of the trial and protect your right to be judged only on the conduct alleged in the indictment. If your case involves multiple defendants or questionable evidence, these motions are an essential part of your defense strategy.