What is a motion in limine?

A motion in limine is a motion made by one of the parties to a lawsuit before trial that asks the court to exclude certain evidence from being presented at trial. In Virginia, a motion in limine is made in order to prevent the opposing party from introducing damaging evidence that could prejudice the jury against the movant’s case. This motion is used to protect a party from having to respond to embarrassing or damaging evidence that would be detrimental to its case. The motion in limine can be used to prevent certain types of evidence from being admitted into evidence. This could include past convictions, hearsay, unduly prejudicial evidence, or any other evidence that affects the credibility of a witness or party. It is also used to prevent prejudicial testimony from being presented. This could include testimony about personal opinions or character evidence. The court deciding the motion in limine will consider several factors when ruling on the motion. This includes weighing the probative value of the evidence against its prejudicial effect and whether the evidence is relevant to the issue being decided at trial. The court also considers whether the evidence is necessary for the jury to decide the case and whether its probative value is substantially outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice. Once the motion is decided, the court either rules that the evidence should be excluded or that it can be used in the trial.

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