A motion to sever offenses:

Question

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A motion to sever offenses asks that separate trials be held for separate offenses. This is typically done when a defendant is facing multiple charges that are unrelated to each other, as it allows for a more focused trial and can prevent confusion for the jury. It is different from asking that each defendant receive a separate trial (option A), which would mean that each defendant would be tried separately for all of the offenses they are charged with. Options C and D are not related to a motion to sever offenses. A motion to sever offenses requests that separate trials be held for separate offenses. This is often requested when defendants are facing multiple charges, and a joint trial could potentially lead to unfair prejudice against one or more defendants. By severing the offenses, each defendant can have their charges heard separately, minimizing the risk of bias or confusion.

A Motion to Sever Offenses