[SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF [COUNTY] ]

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff,
v.
[DEFENDANT NAME],
Defendant.

Case No.: [CASE NUMBER]
Dept.: [DEPARTMENT]
Judge: [NAME OF JUDICIAL OFFICER]

NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE

(Penal Code § 1538.5; Fourth Amendment, U.S. Const.; Cal. Const. art. I, § 13)

Date: [HEARING DATE]
Time: [HEARING TIME]
Dept.: [DEPARTMENT]

TO THE HONORABLE COURT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY OF [COUNTY], AND ALL COUNSEL OF RECORD:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on the above-listed date and time, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, Defendant [DEFENDANT NAME] will and hereby does move this Court, pursuant to California Penal Code § 1538.5, the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article I, § 13 of the California Constitution, for an order suppressing all evidence obtained as a result of the unlawful search and seizure described herein, and for such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

This Motion is based on the attached Memorandum of Points and Authorities, the accompanying Declarations, all pleadings and papers on file in this action, and any argument or evidence that may be presented at the hearing.

DATED: [DATE]

Respectfully submitted,

[DEFENSE COUNSEL NAME], Esq.
Attorney for Defendant [DEFENDANT NAME]
[STATE BAR NO.]
[FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE] | [EMAIL]

MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES

IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO SUPPRESS

I. INTRODUCTION

Defendant moves to suppress evidence obtained on [DATE OF SEARCH/SEIZURE] on the grounds that (1) the seizure lacked reasonable suspicion or probable cause, (2) the subsequent search was conducted without a valid warrant or recognized exception, and (3) the “good-faith” exception is inapplicable under the circumstances. Suppression is mandated under California Penal Code § 1538.5 and the constitutional provisions cited above.

II. STATEMENT OF FACTS [// GUIDANCE: Provide concise but complete chronology]

[INSERT concise narrative describing events leading to the detention, search, and seizure. Identify officers, times, locations, and specific items seized.]

III. LEGAL STANDARD

A. Constitutional Protections

1. Fourth Amendment, U.S. Const.; Cal. Const. art. I, § 13.
2. Evidence obtained in violation thereof must be excluded unless an established exception applies.

B. Statutory Framework

California Penal Code § 1538.5 governs motions to suppress in state court and allocates the burden of proof to the prosecution once the defendant establishes a prima facie case of illegality.

C. Good-Faith Exception

While a good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule exists, it applies only where officers act in objectively reasonable reliance on a warrant or binding precedent. No such reliance exists here. (See Pen. Code § 1538.5, subds. (a)(1)(A), (a)(5) [identifying statutory grounds for suppression].)

D. Standing

Defendant bears the initial burden of establishing a reasonable expectation of privacy in the place or item searched. [// GUIDANCE: Link factual allegations to standing.]

IV. ARGUMENT

1. The Initial Detention Was Unlawful.
   [EXPLAIN why officers lacked reasonable suspicion/probable cause.]

2. The Search Was Conducted Without a Valid Warrant or Exception.
   [IDENTIFY absence of warrant and refute applicability of consent, incident-to-arrest, automobile, exigency, etc.]

3. The Good-Faith Exception Does Not Apply.
   a. No facially valid warrant existed.
   b. Officers did not rely on binding appellate precedent.
   c. Any reliance was objectively unreasonable.

4. All Fruits of the Illegal Search Must Be Suppressed.
   Under the “fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree” doctrine incorporated in Pen. Code § 1538.5(a)(1)(A), derivative evidence—including statements and observations—must also be excluded.

V. REQUEST FOR EVIDENTIARY HEARING

Pursuant to Penal Code § 1538.5, Defendant requests a full evidentiary hearing, with the prosecution bearing the burden of justifying the search and seizure.

VI. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, Defendant respectfully requests that the Court:

1. Suppress all physical evidence, statements, observations, and any other fruits derived from the unlawful search and seizure;
2. Order return of seized property, if applicable; and
3. Grant such further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

DATED: [DATE]

[DEFENSE COUNSEL NAME], Esq.
Attorney for Defendant [DEFENDANT NAME]

DECLARATION OF [DEFENSE COUNSEL NAME]

I, [DEFENSE COUNSEL NAME], declare:

1. I am counsel of record for Defendant [DEFENDANT NAME] in the above-entitled action.
2. The facts stated in the accompanying Motion are true of my own knowledge or based on information and belief, and if called as a witness I could and would testify competently thereto.
3. This Declaration is executed in support of the Motion to Suppress under Penal Code § 1538.5.

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on [DATE], at [CITY], California.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL NAME], Declarant

[OPTIONAL] DECLARATION OF [DEFENDANT NAME]

[// GUIDANCE: Include only if advantageous; can support standing and factual narrative.]

PROOF OF SERVICE

[// GUIDANCE: Adapt to local court form or local rule requirements.]

I am employed in the County of [COUNTY], State of California. I am over the age of eighteen and not a party to the within action. My business address is [ADDRESS].

On [DATE], I served the foregoing Notice of Motion and Motion to Suppress Evidence; Memorandum of Points and Authorities; Declarations; [Proposed] Order on the interested parties in this action by:

☐ Personal delivery
☐ First-class mail
☐ Electronic service (stipulated)

[DETAIL service method.]

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on [DATE], at [CITY], California.

[NAME OF SERVER]

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO SUPPRESS

The Court, having considered Defendant’s Motion to Suppress Evidence, the opposition thereto, the evidence presented, and the arguments of counsel, and good cause appearing,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. Defendant’s Motion to Suppress Evidence is GRANTED.
2. All evidence obtained on [DATE OF SEARCH/SEIZURE], including but not limited to [SPECIFY ITEMS/STATEMENTS], is suppressed.
3. Any and all fruits derived from the unlawful search and seizure are also suppressed.
4. The People shall return to Defendant all property seized, forthwith.
5. [ADDITIONAL RELIEF, if any.]

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: ____

JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
[NAME OF JUDICIAL OFFICER]

[// GUIDANCE:
1. Verify local rules for caption formatting, font size, page limits, and any mandatory “MC-200” forms.
2. Include a separate points-and-authorities table if required by local practice.
3. File and serve at least 10 court days before the hearing (plus any method-of-service extensions) per Cal. Penal Code § 1538.5(f) and Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1005–1013.
4. If challenging a search warrant, attach a redacted copy of the warrant and affidavit, and request in-camera review where appropriate.
5. For traffic-stop cases, consider attaching dash/body-cam footage transcript excerpts.
6. Preserve appellate record: request court reporter and make on-the-record objections.
]