Those of you who aren't big fans of TV shows like Law and Order may not know what a change of venue is.
Usually, a crime is tried in the same jurisdiction where the crime was committed. A "change of venue" is when a trial is held far from the locality in which the crime was committed.
A defense attorney usually asks for a change of venue because he believes that there's been so much publicity about a crime that it would be impossible to find enough impartial residents of an area to make up a fair jury.