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 Washington State, a motion in limine is a pretrial request made by an attorney to the court, seeking to exclude certain evidence from being presented to the jury during a trial. The purpose of this motion is to prevent potentially prejudicial evidence from being seen or heard by the jury before the judge has had an opportunity to rule on its admissibility. This helps to ensure that a jury is not influenced by evidence that is irrelevant, inadmissible, or could unfairly sway the jury's opinion. The motion is typically filed before the trial begins, and the judge will consider the arguments from both sides before making a decision. If the motion is granted, the parties are prohibited from mentioning or introducing the contested evidence during the trial without first getting permission from the court. This procedural tool is an important aspect of trial preparation and strategy, as it helps to shape the evidentiary landscape of the case and can significantly impact the jury's deliberations and the trial's outcome.