Fed. R. Evid. 103

(a) PRESERVING A CLAIM OF ERROR. A party may claim error in

a ruling to admit or exclude evidence only if the error affects a

substantial right of the party and:

(1) if the ruling admits evidence, a party, on the record:

(A) timely objects or moves to strike; and

(B) states the specific ground, unless it was apparent

from the context; or

(2) if the ruling excludes evidence, a party informs the court

of its substance by an offer of proof, unless the substance was

apparent from the context.

(b) N OT NEEDING TO RENEW AN OBJECTION OR OFFER OF PROOF.

Once the court rules definitively on the record—either before or at

trial—a party need not renew an objection or offer of proof to preserve a claim of error for appeal.

(c) COURT’S STATEMENT ABOUT THE RULING; DIRECTING AN OFFER

OF PROOF. The court may make any statement about the character or form of the evidence, the objection made, and the ruling.

2 Rule 104 FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE

The court may direct that an offer of proof be made in question-and-answer form.

(d) PREVENTING THE JURY FROM HEARING INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE.

To the extent practicable, the court must conduct a jury trial so

that inadmissible evidence is not suggested to the jury by any

means.

(e) TAKING NOTICE OF PLAIN ERROR. A court may take notice of

a plain error affecting a substantial right, 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.)