A motion to suppress is a legal request that asks a judge to exclude certain evidence from being presented during a criminal trial. It is typically filed by the defense and argues that the evidence was obtained illegally or without proper authorization. For example, if the police conducted an illegal search and seizure, the defense may file a motion to suppress any evidence collected as a result of this search.
The goal of filing a motion to suppress is to protect the rights of the accused by preventing illegally obtained evidence from being used against them in court. If successful, this can drastically reduce the amount of evidence available for prosecutors to use in their case. This can make it more difficult for them to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt and increase the chances of acquittal for the defendant.
Ultimately, motions to suppress are an important tool used by defense attorneys during criminal trials.