Page 370 - Trump Executive Orders 2017-2021

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 46 / Thursday, March 8, 2018 / Presidential Documents 10073

Sec.~· Part III of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States is amended to read as
follows:
SECTION I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Rule 101. Scope
(a) Scope. These rules apply to courts-martial proceeclings to the extent and with the exceptions
stated in Mil. R. Evid. 1101.
(b) Sources <~fLaw. In the absence of guidance in this Manual or these rules, courts-martial will
apply:
(1) First, the Federal Rules of Evidence and the case law interpreting them; and
(2) Second, when not inconsistent with subdivision (b )(1 ), the rules of evidence at common
law.
(c) Rule ojConstruction
(1) Except as otherwise provided in these rules, the term "military judge" includes:
(A) a military magistrate designated to preside at a special comt-martial or pre-referral
judicial proceeding; and
(B) a summary cou1t-martial otlicer.
(2) A reference in these rules to any kind of written material or any other medium includes
electronically stored information.

Rule 102. Purpose
These rules should be construed so as to administer every proceeding fairly, eliminate
unjustifiable expense and delay, and promote the development of evidence law, to the end of
ascettaining the truth and securing a just determination.

Rule 103. Rulings on evidence
(a) Preserving a Claim of Error. A party may claim error in a ruling to admit or exclude evidence only
if the error matetially prejudices a substantial tight 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 military judge 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<?{ Pro<?f Once the military judge rules
definitively on the record admitting or excluding evidence, 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) Review <?{Con.'i·titutional F:rror. The standard provided in subdivision (a)(2) does not apply to
errors implicating the United States Constitution as it applies to members of the Anned Forces,
unless the error arises under these rules and subdivision (a)(2) provides a standard that is more
advantageous to the accused than the constitutional standard.
(d) I'4ilitary Judge's Statement ahoutthe Ruling; Directing an Qffer £?{ Pro(?f The military judge
may make any statement about the character or form of the evidence, the objection made, and the
ruling. The military judge may direct that an offer of proof be made in question-and-answer
form.
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