A motion for change of venue asks the court to move a case to a different location — because the current venue is legally improper, or because a fair trial isn't realistically possible there.
Improper venue vs. inconvenient venue
These are different arguments. Improper venue claims the case was filed somewhere the rules don't actually allow. A forum non conveniens argument instead claims that, even though venue is technically proper, another location is significantly more appropriate.
Pretrial publicity in criminal cases
In criminal matters, a change of venue can be based on local publicity or community sentiment making an impartial jury unlikely — this usually requires concrete evidence like media coverage and, sometimes, a preliminary juror survey.
Courts weigh convenience factors carefully
For civil venue disputes, courts typically weigh where witnesses and evidence are located, which forum's law applies, and the burden on each party — a motion should address these factors directly rather than simply asserting the current venue is inconvenient.
File it early
Venue objections are often waived if not raised promptly, sometimes as early as the first responsive pleading — this is not a motion that benefits from waiting.