Legal Definitions - limine out

To limine out means that a court has decided to prevent certain evidence or arguments from being presented to a jury or judge during a trial. This decision is made *before* the evidence is actually offered, usually in response to a formal request called a "motion in limine." The purpose is often to ensure a fair trial by excluding information that might be irrelevant, unfairly prejudicial, or legally inadmissible.

Here are some examples:

• In a criminal trial for assault, the prosecution attempts to introduce evidence that the defendant had a minor traffic violation five years ago. The defense attorney files a motion to limine out this evidence, arguing it is completely irrelevant to the current assault charge and would unfairly prejudice the jury against the defendant.

  Explanation: The court, agreeing with the defense, decides to limine out the traffic violation evidence, preventing the jury from hearing information that could unfairly sway their opinion without being pertinent to the actual crime.

• During a complex patent infringement case, one party seeks to present testimony from an expert witness whose scientific methodology has been widely discredited within their field. The opposing legal team files a motion to limine out this expert's testimony, arguing it does not meet the legal standards for reliable expert evidence.

  Explanation: If the court grants the motion, it will limine out the expert's testimony, meaning that particular expert will not be allowed to speak in court because their methods are deemed unreliable.

• In a divorce proceeding, one spouse tries to introduce highly personal and embarrassing details about the other spouse's hobbies, claiming it shows they are irresponsible. The attorney for the other spouse files a motion to limine out these details, arguing they are irrelevant to the financial or custody issues at hand and are merely intended to harass.

  Explanation: The court might limine out the evidence about personal hobbies, ruling that such information is not relevant to the legal issues of the divorce and could be unduly prejudicial or simply a waste of the court's time.