Pennsylvania permits the filing of omnibus pretrial motions. These motions range in the type of the issues that can be challenged and the type of relief sought. For instance, one type of omnibus pretrial motion is known as a motion to suppress which is used to challenge the legality of police conduct and requests the court to preclude the Commonwealth from introducing evidence seized as a result of the police conduct. Another type of pretrial motion is a habeas motion which challenges the sufficiency of the evidence the Commonwealth introduced at the preliminary hearing and requests the court to dismiss some or all of the charges against the defendant.
The timeline for filing these motions is within 30 days after arraignment.
