Reopen Bucks County Criminal Cases
A motion to reopen a criminal case occurs to introduce evidence. Normally, it is done to correct or add to previous testimony (i.e. create greater accuracy). Sometimes it is done by one side or another in a criminal case because there was an omission or mistake. The decision to grant the motion is left to the Bucks County judge. It can occur at any time during the trial. Generally, the judges are quite flexible with this request if reopening will create greater clarity in a case.
A motion to reopen is controlled by 611(a) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence. Most Bucks County criminal defense lawyers also know that a motion to reopen cannot occur during a post-sentence hearing. This makes sense as it could cause problems in getting a finality of a trial.
Arguments against reopening are unfair prejudice or any new evidence that is being introduced if a case were reopened is has limited probative value. Both of these arguments must lay out with specificity and should be highly principle.