Editing Motion in limine (section)

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Motion ''in limine''}}{{Short description|A motion to request that certain testimony be excluded}}
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In [[Law of the United States|U.S. law]], a '''motion ''in limine''''' ({{IPA|la|ɪn ˈliːmɪnɛ|lang}}, "at the start"; literally, "on the threshold") is a [[motion (legal)|motion]], discussed outside the presence of the [[jury]], to request that certain testimony be excluded.  A motion ''in limine'' can also be used to get a ruling to allow for the inclusion of evidence.  The motion is decided by a judge in both [[Civil law (common law)|civil]] and [[Criminal law|criminal]] proceedings. It is frequently used at pre-trial hearings or during [[trial]], and it can be used at both the [[State court (United States)|state]] and [[Federal court (United States)|federal]] levels.

''[[Black's Law Dictionary]]'' (8th ed. 2004) defines "motion ''in limine''{{-"}} as "a pretrial request that certain inadmissible [[Evidence#Law|evidence]] not be referred to or offered at trial."  They are made "preliminary", and are presented for consideration of the judge, [[arbitration in the United States|arbitrator]] or hearing officer, to be decided without the merits being reached first.<ref name=garner>{{cite book |editor-last=Garner|editor-first=Brian A.|chapter=In limine |title=Black's Law Dictionary|edition=7th |year=1999|publisher=West Group |place=St. Paul, Minnesota}}</ref>{{rp|791}}

The reasons for the motions are wide and varied, but probably the most frequent use of the motion ''in limine'' in a criminal trial is to shield the jury from information concerning the defendant that could possibly be unfairly prejudicial to the defendant if heard at trial.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rules.htm#Rule403|title=Federal Rules of Evidence|author=LII Staff|date=30 November 2011|website=LII / Legal Information Institute}}</ref> Other reasons arise under the [[Federal Rules of Civil Procedure]] for failure to comply with [[discovery (law)|discovery]].<ref name="law.cornell.edu">{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/|title=Federal Rules of Civil Procedure|author=LII Staff|date=30 November 2011|website=LII / Legal Information Institute}}</ref>

Other proper subjects for motions ''in limine'' stem from the court's power to "Provide for the orderly conduct of proceedings before it"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&division=&title=1.&part=1.&chapter=6.&article=2.|title=California Code of Civil Procedure §128(a)(3), for example|last=|first=|date=|website=leginfo.legislature.ca.gov|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref> and to "[c]ontrol its process and orders so as to make them conform to law and justice".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&division=&title=1.&part=1.&chapter=6.&article=2.|title=California Code of Civil Procedure §128(a)(8)|last=|first=|date=|website=leginfo.legislature.ca.gov|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine |edition=3rd|last=VeVea|first=Victor|publisher=Legal Research Services|year=2019|isbn=978-1790162826|location=Bakersfield, Calif. |page=12}}</ref>  These [[Procedural law|procedural]] motions ''in limine'' may include motions to control the conduct of the [[prosecutor]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine |edition=3rd|last=VeVea|first=Victor|publisher=Legal Research Services|year=2019|isbn=978-1790162826|location=Bakersfield, Calif. |pages=79–104}}</ref> motions for separate trials on counts, prior convictions, and/or enhancements,<ref>{{Cite book|title=California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine |edition=3rd |last=VeVea|first=Victor|publisher=Legal Research Services|year=2019|isbn=978-1790162826|location=Bakersfield, Calif.|pages=104–111}}</ref> motions to control the [[courtroom]] environment,<ref>{{Cite book|title=California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine |edition=3rd |last=VeVea|first=Victor|publisher=Legal Research Services|year=2019|isbn=978-1790162826|location=Bakersfield, Calif. |pages=112–145}}</ref> motions to control [[jury]] conduct,<ref>{{Cite book|title=California Criminal Defense Motions in Limine |edition=3rd |last=VeVea|first=Victor|publisher=Legal Research Services|year=2019|isbn=978-1790162826|location=Bakersfield, Calif. |pages=305–340}}</ref> and other such motions.

A motion ''in limine'' is distinct from a motion for a protective order, which is a request to prevent the [[Discovery (law)|discovery]] of evidence, and a [[motion to suppress]], which can be raised by the defense in American criminal trials to prevent the admission of evidence that was obtained unconstitutionally.