Criminal Rule 12
Rule 12. Pleadings and Motions Before Trial— Defenses and Objections
Cite as Alaska R. Crim. P. 12
(a) Pleadings and Motions. Pleadings in criminal
proceedings shall be the complaint, the indictment and the
information, and the pleas of not guilty, guilty and nolo
contendere. All other pleas, demurrers and motions to quash
are abolished, and defenses and objections raised before trial
which heretofore could have been raised by one or more of
them shall be raised only by motion to dismiss or to grant
appropriate relief, as provided in these rules.
(b) Pretrial Motions*. Any defense, objection, or
request which is capable of determination without the trial of
the general issue may be raised before trial by motion. Any or
all of the following shall be raised prior to trial:
(1) Defenses and objections based on defects in the
institution of the prosecution;
(2) Defenses and objections based on defects in the
indictment or information (other than a failure to show
jurisdiction in the court or to charge an offense, which
objections shall be noticed by the court at any time during
pendency of the proceeding);
(3) Motions to suppress evidence on the ground that it
was illegally obtained;
(4) Requests for a severance of charges or defendants
under Rule 14.
(c) Pretrial Motion Date. All pretrial motions listed in
Rule 12(b) must be filed within 45 days after the defendant’s
arraignment. The court may vary the time for good cause
shown.
(d) Ruling on Motion. A motion made before trial shall
be determined before trial unless the court orders that it be
deferred for determination at the trial of the general issue.
Where factual issues are involved in determining a motion to
suppress evidence, the court shall state its essential findings on
the record.
fendant’s
arraignment. The court may vary the time for good cause
shown.
(d) Ruling on Motion. A motion made before trial shall
be determined before trial unless the court orders that it be
deferred for determination at the trial of the general issue.
Where factual issues are involved in determining a motion to
suppress evidence, the court shall state its essential findings on
the record.
(e) Effect of Failure to Raise Defenses or Objections.
Failure by the defendant to raise defenses or objections or to
make requests which must be made prior to trial, at the time set
by the court pursuant to section (c), or prior to any extension
thereof made by the court, shall constitute waiver thereof, but
the court for cause shown may grant relief from the waiver.
(f) Record. An electronic recording shall be made of all
judicial proceedings under this rule.
(g) Effect of Determination. If the court grants a motion
based on a defect in the institution of the prosecution or in the
indictment or information, it may also order that the defendant
be held in custody or that bail be continued for a specified time
pending the filing of a new indictment or information.
(h) Continuance of Trial. A motion for continuance of a
trial date will be granted by the court only for cause shown. In
deciding whether to grant the motion, the court shall consider
the victim’s circumstances and the effect the delay would have
on the victim, particularly a victim of advanced age or extreme
youth. The court shall place its findings on the record. The
presiding judge of a judicial district may require that a visiting
or pro tem judge obtain approval from the presiding judge
before granting any continuance of trial.
*See Chapter 119 SLA 1972 effective September 10, 1972.
Note: Chapter 71, section 46, SLA 2012 (SB 86), effective
July 1, 2012, amended Criminal Rule 12(h) relating to the
protection of vulnerable adults, as reflected in section 2 of this
Order
f a judicial district may require that a visiting
or pro tem judge obtain approval from the presiding judge
before granting any continuance of trial.
*See Chapter 119 SLA 1972 effective September 10, 1972.
Note: Chapter 71, section 46, SLA 2012 (SB 86), effective
July 1, 2012, amended Criminal Rule 12(h) relating to the
protection of vulnerable adults, as reflected in section 2 of this
Order. The changes to Criminal Rule 12(h) are adopted for the
sole reason that the legislature has mandated the amendments.