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 Vermont, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that can be used 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 be filed before the case is submitted to the jury. The standard for the court to grant such a motion is whether there is a lack of evidence such that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the non-moving party. Vermont follows the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as they are adopted by the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure, which means that in the state courts of Vermont, a motion for judgment as a matter of law would be governed by a rule similar to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50. This rule allows a party to file a motion for judgment as a matter of law before the case is submitted to the jury and, if the jury has returned a verdict, a renewed motion after the trial. The court will consider the motion based on whether the evidence presented at trial could reasonably support a verdict for the non-moving party.