(a) Effect of erroneous ruling.—Error may not be predicated upon a ruling which admits or excludes evidence unless a substantial right of the party is affected, and
(1) Objection.—In case the ruling is one admitting evidence, a timely objection or motion to strike appears of record, stating the specific ground of objection, if the specific ground was not apparent from the context; or
(2) Offer of proof.—In case the ruling is one excluding evidence, the substance of the evidence was made known to the court by offer or was apparent from the context within which questions were asked. Once the court makes a definitive ruling on the record admitting or excluding evidence, either at or before trial, a party need not renew an objection or offer of proof to preserve a claim of error for appeal.
(b) Record of offer and ruling.—The court may add any other or further statement which shows the character of the evidence, the form in which it was offered, the objection made, and the ruling thereon. It may direct the making of an offer in question and answer form.
(c) Hearing of jury.—In jury cases, proceedings shall be conducted, to the extent practicable, so as to prevent inadmissible evidence from being suggested to the jury by any means, such as making statements or offers of proof or asking questions in the hearing of the jury.
**(d) Plain error.—Nothing in this rule precludes taking notice of plain errors affecting substantial rights although they were not brought to the attention of the court.
(As amended Apr. 17, 2000, eff.** Dec. 1, 2000.)
added in current removed in current
Compared to current version (2025).
(a) Effect of erroneous ruling.-Error may not be predicated upoPreserving a Claim of Error. A party may claim error in a ruling whichto admits or excludes evidence uonlesy if the error affects a substantial right of the party is affected, and:
(1) Objection.-In caseif the ruling is one admittings evidence, a party, on the record:
(A) timely objections or motionves to strike; appears of record,nd
(B) statinges the specific ground of objection, if the specific ground was not, unless it was apparent from the context; or
(2) Offer of proof.-In caseif the ruling is one excludinges evidence, the substance of the evidence was made known to the court by offer or was apparent from the context within which questions were askeda party informs the court of its substance by an offer of proof, unless the substance was apparent from the context.
(b) Not Needing to Renew an Objection or Offer of Proof. Once the court makes arules definitive rulingly on the record admitting or excluding evidence, either at o-either before or at trial, -a party need not renew an objection or offer of proof to preserve a claim of error for appeal.
(bc) Record of offer and ruling.-Court ’ s Statement About the Ruling; Directing an Offer of Proof. The court may addmake any other or further statement which showsstatement about the character or form of the evidence, the form in which it was offered, the objection made, and the ruling thereon. I. The court may direct the making of an offerat an offer of proof be made in question and -answer form.
(cd) Hearing of jury.-In jury cases, proceedings shall be conducted, to the extent practicable, so as to prevenPreventing the Jury from Hearing Inadmissible Evidence. To the extent practicable, the court must conduct a jury trial so that inadmissible evidence from beingis not suggested to the jury by any means, such as making statements or offers of proof or asking questions in the hearing of the jury.
(d).
(e) Taking Notice of Plain eError.-Nothing in this rule precludes A court may takinge notice of a plain errors affecting a substantial rights although they were not brought to the attention of the court, even if the claim of error was not properly preserved.
(As amended Apr. 17, 2000, eff. Dec. 1, 2000; Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011.)