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 North Carolina, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that occurs during a trial. This motion can be made by a party who does not carry the burden of proof for a claim or defense, typically the defendant for a claim or the plaintiff for a defense. The purpose of this motion is to request the court to decide on a claim or defense without sending it to the jury, based on the argument that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the opposing party on the matter at hand. The state-level equivalent to the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50 is found in the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically Rule 50. This rule outlines the circumstances under which such a motion can be made, the timing for making the motion, and the standards the court must use to evaluate it. The court will grant the motion only if, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, it finds that there is insufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to render a verdict for that party.