What Does ‘In Limine’ Mean in Court?

“In limine” is a Latin term, meaning “at the threshold,” which refers to the preliminary objections or application made at the very beginning of legal proceedings.

A petition or appeal may be dismissed ‘in limine’ if the court finds it untenable on initial review, without proceeding to detailed arguments or merits. 

For instance, in an eviction suit, a second appeal was filed before the Orissa High Court, where the court dismissed the said appeal ‘in limine.’ 

The court observed, “Considering the submission made herein and going through the question of law, this Court does not find any question of law for admitting the Second Appeal, for which the Second Appeal stands dismissed.”