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 Missouri, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that can be used during a jury trial when one party believes that the opposing party has not presented sufficient evidence to support a claim or defense. This motion is typically filed by the party that does not carry the burden of proof, such as a defendant challenging a plaintiff's claim or a plaintiff challenging a defendant's defense. The standard for the court to grant such a motion is whether, after considering all the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, there is a complete absence of probative facts to support the non-moving party's position. In other words, the court must find that no reasonable jury could rule in favor of the non-moving party based on the evidence presented. If the motion is granted, the claim or defense in question is dismissed without being submitted to the jury. In federal courts, this procedure is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50, and Missouri state courts follow a similar standard under Missouri's Rules of Civil Procedure.