A motion for judgment as a matter of law is a procedure during trial in which a party who does not have the burden of proof on a claim (generally the defendant) or on a defense to a claim (generally the plaintiff) may ask the court to dismiss the claim or defense before the jury is allowed to decide it. The standard for dismissing such a claim or defense is whether no reasonable jury could find for the opposing party on the claim or defense. In the federal court system, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50.

In Kentucky, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that can be used during a jury trial when a party believes there is insufficient evidence for the opposing party's claim or defense to warrant a jury decision. This motion is typically filed by the defendant in response to the plaintiff's claim or by the plaintiff in response to the defendant's defense. The standard for the court to grant such a motion is whether the evidence is so overwhelmingly one-sided that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the non-moving party. Kentucky follows the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50 in federal court cases, which outlines the specific timing and procedural requirements for filing such a motion. In state court proceedings, the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure would govern the use of such motions, and the state rules are often similar to the federal rules in terms of standards and procedures.