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 Ohio, 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 Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure do not specifically use the term 'motion for judgment as a matter of law,' but Rule 50 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which governs such motions in federal courts, is often mirrored in state practice. The standard for granting this motion is whether, after considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, there is a complete absence of pleading or evidence on an essential element of the claim or defense. If no reasonable jury could find in favor of the non-moving party based on the evidence presented, the court may grant the motion and dismiss the claim or defense without sending it to the jury for deliberation.