Motion in limine

In U.S. law, a motion in limine (Latin: [ɪn ˈliːmɪnɛ], "at the start"; literally, "on the threshold") is a motion, discussed outside the presence of the jury, to request that certain testimony be excluded. A motion in limine can also be used to get a ruling to allow for the inclusion of evidence. The motion is decided by a judge in both civil and criminal proceedings. It is frequently used at pre-trial hearings or during trial, and it can be used at both the state and federal levels.

Black's Law Dictionary (8th ed. 2004) defines "motion in limine" as "a pretrial request that certain inadmissible evidence not be referred to or offered at trial." They are made "preliminary", and are presented for consideration of the judge, arbitrator or hearing officer, to be decided without the merits being reached first.[1]: 791 

The reasons for the motions are wide and varied, but probably the most frequent use of the motion in limine in a criminal trial is to shield the jury from information concerning the defendant that could possibly be unfairly prejudicial to the defendant if heard at trial.[2] Other reasons arise under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for failure to comply with discovery.[3]

Other proper subjects for motions in limine stem from the court's power to "Provide for the orderly conduct of proceedings before it"[4] and to "[c]ontrol its process and orders so as to make them conform to law and justice".[5][6] These procedural motions in limine may include motions to control the conduct of the prosecutor,[7] motions for separate trials on counts, prior convictions, and/or enhancements,[8] motions to control the courtroom environment,[9] motions to control jury conduct,[10] and other such motions.

A motion in limine is distinct from a motion for a protective order, which is a request to prevent the discovery of evidence, and a motion to suppress, which can be raised by the defense in American criminal trials to prevent the admission of evidence that was obtained unconstitutionally.

  1. ^ Garner, Brian A., ed. (1999). "In limine". Black's Law Dictionary (7th ed.). St. Paul, Minnesota: West Group.
  2. ^ LII Staff (30 November 2011). "Federal Rules of Evidence". LII / Legal Information Institute.
  3. ^ LII Staff (30 November 2011). "Federal Rules of Civil Procedure". LII / Legal Information Institute.
  4. ^ "California Code of Civil Procedure §128(a)(3), for example". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  5. ^ "California Code of Civil Procedure §128(a)(8)". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  6. ^ VeVea, Victor (2019). California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine (3rd ed.). Bakersfield, Calif.: Legal Research Services. p. 12. ISBN 978-1790162826.
  7. ^ VeVea, Victor (2019). California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine (3rd ed.). Bakersfield, Calif.: Legal Research Services. pp. 79–104. ISBN 978-1790162826.
  8. ^ VeVea, Victor (2019). California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine (3rd ed.). Bakersfield, Calif.: Legal Research Services. pp. 104–111. ISBN 978-1790162826.
  9. ^ VeVea, Victor (2019). California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine (3rd ed.). Bakersfield, Calif.: Legal Research Services. pp. 112–145. ISBN 978-1790162826.
  10. ^ VeVea, Victor (2019). California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine (3rd ed.). Bakersfield, Calif.: Legal Research Services. pp. 305–340. ISBN 978-1790162826.