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 Louisiana, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a pre-verdict motion that can be made during a trial when a party believes there is insufficient evidence for the opposing party's claim or defense to warrant a jury decision. This procedure is similar to the federal court system's motion for judgment as a matter of law under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50. The party making the motion argues that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the opposing party based on the evidence presented. In Louisiana state courts, this is governed by the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure. If the court agrees that the evidence is legally insufficient to support a verdict for the opposing party, it may grant the motion and enter a judgment accordingly. This mechanism is designed to ensure that cases with insufficient evidence to support a claim or defense are not submitted to the jury, thereby conserving judicial resources and upholding the standards of legal sufficiency.