State v. Tate

COPELAND, Justice.

A motion in limine is, by definition, a motion made “[o]n or at the threshold; at the very beginning; preliminarily.” Black’s Law Dictionary, p. 708 (5th ed. 1979). In other words, a motion in limine is a preliminary or pretrial motion. Any motion which can be made at trial can, if the facts are known beforehand, be made before trial. See e.g., State v. Franks, 300 N.C. 1, 265 S.E. 2d 177 (1980) (motion in limine madé to restrict the district attorney’s closing argument). These motions can be made in order to prevent the jury from ever hearing the potentially prejudicial…