A “Motion in Limine” is a legal term that refers to a request made by a party before a trial to include or exclude certain evidence. The Latin term “in limine” means “at the threshold” or “on the edge,” indicating that the motion is made at the beginning of the trial before it officially starts.
The purpose of a motion in limine is to address issues related to the admissibility of evidence. This may include evidence that one party believes is irrelevant, prejudicial, hearsay, or inadmissible for some other legal reason. By filing a motion in limine, a party seeks a ruling from the court to determine whether specific evidence can be presented or excluded during the trial.
Common Reasons for Filing a Motion in Limine
- Relevance: A party may argue that certain evidence is not relevant to the issues in the case and should be excluded.
- Prejudice: A party may assert that the admission of certain evidence could unfairly prejudice the jury or the court against them, and therefore, it should be excluded.
- Hearsay: If the evidence consists of statements made outside the courtroom and offered for the truth of the matter asserted, it might be considered hearsay and subject to exclusion.
- Authentication: If there are concerns about the authenticity or reliability of certain documents or evidence, a party may file a motion in limine.
- Expert Testimony: Challenges to the admissibility of expert testimony, questioning the qualifications or methodologies of an expert witness.
During a trial, a motion in limine may be presented by either party to exclude or admit certain evidence. The court will then review the arguments presented in the motion and make a ruling on whether the evidence will be allowed or excluded during the trial. If the motion is granted, the evidence will be excluded from the trial and the jury will not be able to consider it. If the motion is denied, the evidence will be considered during the trial.
