Court Reporter Practice Exam

What kind of evidence may a motion to expunge aim to suppress?

1. Admissible evidence

2. Unfounded evidence

3. Damaging or inadmissible evidence

4. Heard evidence

The correct answer is: Damaging or inadmissible evidence

A motion to expunge is typically aimed at removing or suppressing records that are considered damaging or inadmissible. This can include information that could harm an individual's reputation or be prejudicial in future legal proceedings. When a motion to expunge is granted, it effectively eliminates the existence of certain evidence from the public record, ensuring that it cannot be used against a person in the context of future cases. In this scenario, the focus on damaging or inadmissible evidence highlights the motion’s purpose of protecting individuals from the negative repercussions of records that could unfairly impact their lives or legal standing. This aligns with the broader legal principle that individuals should not be hindered by information that should not have been available for consideration in the first place. The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what expungement seeks to address. Admissible evidence, for example, is already permissible in court and does not require suppression. Unfounded evidence might not have the same implications as damaging information, and heard evidence refers generally to evidence that has been presented but does not specifically convey the harmful nature of the evidence aimed for suppression through expungement.