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 Pennsylvania, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that occurs during a trial, where a party without the burden of proof (often the defendant) can request the court to dismiss the claim or defense before it goes to the jury. This is based on the argument that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the opposing party on the presented claim or defense. The state-level equivalent to the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50 is governed by the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. Specifically, Rule 227.1 allows for post-trial motions, including motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (j.n.o.v.), which is similar to the federal judgment as a matter of law. The court will grant such a motion only if the facts are such that no verdict could ever stand against the moving party. It is a stringent standard, ensuring that the right to a jury trial is preserved unless the evidence is overwhelmingly one-sided.