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 Montana, 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 raises a defense that lacks evidentiary support. The purpose of the motion is to request the court to rule on the issue without submitting 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 standard for granting such a motion is high, as the court must find that the evidence is so one-sided that one party must prevail as a matter of law. In Montana state courts, this procedure is governed by the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure, which are similar to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Specifically, Rule 50 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure serves as a guide for federal courts, including those in Montana, when dealing with a motion for judgment as a matter of law.