Motion in limine is the name commonly given a pretrial motion that attempts to prevent the offer of, or reference to, specific evidence or other matters in the presence of the jury. A motion in limine is designed to require a party offering evidence to approach the bench and inquire into the admissibility of the evidence at issue before introducing that evidence to the jury. The purpose of the motion in limine is to prevent the other party from asking prejudicial questions or introducing prejudicial evidence in front of the jury without first asking the trial court’s permission.

In Maryland, a motion in limine is a pretrial request made to the court to rule on the admissibility of certain evidence before it is presented during the trial. The goal of this motion is to prevent potentially prejudicial evidence from being introduced in front of the jury without the judge's approval. This helps to ensure that the jury is not exposed to evidence that may be inadmissible or could unfairly sway their opinion. The motion in limine requires the party wishing to introduce the evidence to approach the bench and discuss its admissibility with the judge outside the hearing of the jury. Maryland courts recognize the motion in limine as a procedural tool to manage the trial effectively and to avoid the potential for prejudice that may arise from the jury hearing inadmissible evidence. The use of such motions is governed by Maryland's rules of evidence and procedure, and the judge's ruling on a motion in limine can significantly impact the course of the trial.