What is a motion in limine?

• A. A pretrial motion to exclude or limit evidence at trial.
• B. A post-trial motion to adjust judgment.
• C. A motion to compel discovery.
• D. A motion for a new trial.

Answer: (A)

A motion in limine is a pretrial request to exclude or limit evidence at trial. The purpose is to keep certain material from being presented to the jury or to restrict how it can be used, so the trial proceeds with only admissible, non-prejudicial evidence. This helps prevent unfair prejudice, confusion, or auxiliary disputes about admissibility from influencing jurors before any testimony is heard. It’s typically filed before trial or at the outset to resolve evidentiary issues early, rather than waiting for objections during trial. In contrast, motions that come after trial or seek to change the outcome (like adjusting the judgment or requesting a new trial) address results rather than what evidence may be admitted in the first place, which is why a pretrial evidentiary gatekeeping request is the correct description of a motion in limine.