What is a motion?

• A. A private trial with three arbitrators.
• B. A form of dispute resolution outside court where a neutral third party helps the parties reach a settlement.
• C. An official in a court of law who keeps order.
• D. A written document asking the Court to decide a contested issue.

Answer: (D)

A motion is a formal written request to the court asking for a ruling or order on a specific issue in a case. It’s filed with the court and usually includes facts, legal arguments, and authorities to support the request. The court may decide the motion on the written submissions or after a hearing. This is different from outside-the-court processes like arbitration or mediation, which involve neutral parties but occur outside the court system, and from a court officer who maintains order. It’s also not a document that itself resolves the whole case; rather, it asks the court to decide particular issues, such as dismissal or summary judgment.