A motion for judgment as a matter of law is a procedure during trial in which a party who does not have the burden of proof on a claim (generally the defendant) or on a defense to a claim (generally the plaintiff) may ask the court to dismiss the claim or defense before the jury is allowed to decide it. The standard for dismissing such a claim or defense is whether no reasonable jury could find for the opposing party on the claim or defense. In the federal court system, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50.

In Delaware, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that can be invoked during a trial when a party, typically the defendant, believes that the opposing party has not presented sufficient evidence to support their claim or defense. This motion can also be used by a plaintiff when a defendant has not presented sufficient evidence to support a defense. The purpose of the motion is to request the court to rule on the issue without sending it to the jury, based on the argument that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the opposing party given the evidence presented. The Delaware Court Rules, specifically Rule 50 of the Delaware Rules of Civil Procedure, govern the use of such motions in the state courts of Delaware. This rule is similar to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50, which applies in the federal court system. The court will grant the motion only if, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, it determines that there is insufficient legal basis for a reasonable jury to find for that party.