What every court motion actually means

Asks the court to throw out a complaint as legally insufficient. Filed before answering. The most common pretrial dispositive motion in federal court.

Asks the court to decide some or all of a case without trial because the material facts are undisputed. The defendant's last realistic exit before trial.

Asks the court to decide claims or defenses from the pleadings alone after the complaint and answer are closed.

Asks for judgment against a party that failed to respond or defend after default was entered.

Asks the court to enforce an arbitration agreement and move the dispute out of court.

Asks the court to order the other side to answer discovery they've refused or stonewalled. Requires meet-and-confer first.

Asks the court to shield a party from abusive or unduly burdensome discovery. Common in cases involving trade secrets, medical records, or third-party subpoenas.

Asks for more time to meet a court, rule, pleading, discovery, or briefing deadline.

Asks to move a hearing, conference, deadline, or trial date to a later date.

Asks to pause discovery, enforcement, briefing, trial preparation, or the entire case.

Asks the court to let named plaintiffs represent a class of similarly situated people.

Asks the court to exclude unreliable or unhelpful expert opinions before trial.

In criminal cases, asks the court to require more detail about vague or broad charges.

In criminal cases, asks to split charges or defendants into separate trials to avoid unfair prejudice.

In criminal cases, asks for pretrial release under conditions instead of detention.

Asks for review of a criminal detention, release, or bond-condition order.

Pretrial motion asking the court to exclude specific evidence before the jury hears it. Tactical core of trial preparation.

Criminal-procedure motion to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendment. Often case-dispositive in practice.

Asks during jury trial for judgment because no reasonable jury could find for the other side on an issue.

Asks to split trial into phases, often liability first and damages later.

In criminal trial, asks for acquittal because the government evidence is legally insufficient.

Asks the court to revisit a prior ruling. Requires new law, new evidence, or clear error — not just disagreement.

Asks the court to award attorney fees under a statute, contract, rule, or judgment.

Asks to recover taxable litigation costs after judgment, separate from attorney fees.

Asks after verdict to set aside a jury result because the evidence was legally insufficient.

Asks the court to retry the case after a verdict or judgment because serious trial problems affected the result.

Asks the court to revise a judgment soon after entry because of serious error, new evidence, or changed law.

Asks for relief from a final judgment based on mistake, fraud, voidness, newly discovered evidence, or extraordinary circumstances.

Asks the court to turn an arbitration award into an enforceable court judgment.

Asks the court to set aside an arbitration award under narrow statutory grounds.

In criminal cases, asks for a new trial after conviction when justice requires it.

In criminal cases, asks to withdraw a guilty plea, with standards depending on whether sentencing has occurred.

Asks the court to punish litigation misconduct — frivolous filings, discovery abuse, or evidence destruction.

Asks the court to sanction or coerce compliance after someone violates a court order.

Asks the court to require someone to explain why sanctions, contempt, or urgent relief should not issue.

Asks the court to order interim relief while the case is pending. Requires showing likelihood of success and irreparable harm.

Emergency order to prevent irreparable harm for up to 14 days while a preliminary-injunction hearing is scheduled. Can issue ex parte in narrow cases.

Asks the court to invalidate a subpoena or defective service of process. Time-sensitive — file quickly to avoid waiver.

Asks the court to remove improper material from a pleading — or, in California, to dismiss a claim that targets protected speech (anti-SLAPP).

Asks permission to change a pleading after amendment is no longer automatic.

Filed by the plaintiff to send a removed case back to state court. Procedural-defect grounds must be raised within 30 days.

Lets a nonparty ask to join a lawsuit because the result may affect its interests.

Asks the court to add a person or entity needed for fair and complete resolution of the case.

Asks the court to split claims, parties, or trials to avoid prejudice, confusion, or delay.

Asks the court to combine or coordinate related cases that share common legal or factual questions.

Asks to move the case to another federal district for convenience, fairness, or improper venue.

Asks to keep specific filings or exhibits out of the public court record.

Asks to undo an entry of default or default judgment so the case can be defended.

Asks to send a non-final order up for immediate appellate review in narrow circumstances.

Asks to pause enforcement or trial-court proceedings while an appeal is pending.

Asks permission to submit a filing or exhibit under seal instead of on the public docket.

Asks to file a case or appeal without prepaying fees because the litigant cannot afford them.

Asks the court to appoint a lawyer for a party who cannot afford one or cannot litigate effectively alone.