limiting instructions
Limiting instructions is a directive from a judge advising the jury to consider certain evidence only for a specified purpose and not for any other use. Under Federal Rule of Evidence 105, when evidence is admissible for one purpose or against one party, but not another, the court must, upon request, instruct the jury on the limited scope of that evidence. Counsel may sometimes choose not to request a limiting instruction for strategic reasons, such as avoiding undue emphasis on unfavorable evidence. The underlying principle of limiting instructions is that relevant and probative evidence should generally be admitted when it serves a proper purpose, with the jury guided to use it appropriately. Failure to provide a proper limiting instruction when required may constitute a reversible error, allowing an appellate court to overturn a verdict if the omission resulted in unfair prejudice.
[Last reviewed in October of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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