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 New Jersey, 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. This type of motion is used to prevent potentially prejudicial evidence from being introduced to the jury without the judge's prior examination of its admissibility. The goal is to avoid unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury. The motion in limine can address a wide range of evidentiary issues, such as the exclusion of prior bad acts, hearsay, or expert testimony that does not meet the standards of reliability. New Jersey courts have the discretion to grant or deny these motions based on the New Jersey Rules of Evidence and relevant case law. If granted, the motion effectively sets the boundaries for what evidence may or may not be presented to the jury, thereby helping to ensure a fair trial. Attorneys typically file motions in limine prior to the start of the trial, and the court may hold a hearing to consider the arguments from both sides before making a decision.