Report Title:

Evidence; Appeal

Description:

Provides that an issue regarding admission or exclusion of evidence is preserved for appeal once the court makes a definitive ruling on the issue and that a litigant need not renew objection or make offer of proof thereafter to preserve the issue for appeal. (SD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

3253

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the hawaii rules of evidence.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 626-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending rule 103, subsection (a), to read as follows:

"(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."

SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.