Changes

A '''change of venue''' means moving a lawsuit or criminal trial to another place for trial. (See [[venue]]).  In [[Latin]] it is called ''forum non conveniens''. [[Category:Legal Terms]]

A '''change of venue''' means moving a lawsuit or criminal trial to another place ([[venue]]) for trial. (See [[venue]]).

 

It is often requested in a criminal trial when a defendant believes that pre-trial publicity has made it impossible for him/her to have a truly impartial jury, and therefore seeks the trial proceedings moved to an area with less publicity.  Unlike a [[bench trial]], where a defendant has an absolute right to (openly) waive his/her right to a jury trial, changes of venue are not automatic and are often opposed by the prosecution; the judge has the final say on whether to grant such.

 

The [[Latin]] term ''forum non conveniens'' is not the same, as it involves one party seeking a change for the purpose of gaining unfair advantage (an example would be a Texas plaintiff suing a Minnesota corporation for breach of contract, and the Minnesota corporation seeking the trial to be moved there, so as to cause added expense to the Texas plaintiff).

 

[[Category:Legal Terms]]