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 Washington state, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that can be invoked during a trial when a party believes there is insufficient evidence for the opposing party's claim or defense to warrant a jury decision. This motion is typically used by a defendant to challenge the plaintiff's case, but it can also be used by a plaintiff to challenge a defendant's defense. The standard for the court to grant such a motion is similar to the federal standard outlined in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50, which is whether no reasonable jury could find in favor of the non-moving party based on the evidence presented. If the court finds that the evidence is so one-sided that reasonable minds could not disagree, the court may grant the motion and enter a judgment without the claim or defense going to the jury. This procedure is governed by the Washington Rules of Civil Procedure and case law interpreting those rules.