# S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-103: Rulings on evidence

> South Dakota · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-103

## Section

- **Citation:** S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-103
- **Heading:** Rulings on evidence
- **Jurisdiction:** South Dakota
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** SD Code / Title 19 / Chapter 19 / Section 19-19-103

## Text

(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) Not 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. 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.

Source: SL 1979, ch 358 (Supreme Court Rule 78-2, Rule 103); SL 2006, ch 341 (Supreme Court Rule 06-67); SDCL §§ 19-9-3 to 19-9-6; SL 2016, ch 239 (Supreme Court Rule 15-19 ), eff. Jan. 1, 2016.

## Nearby sections

- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-101 Scope--Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-101.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-102 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-102.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-103 Rulings on evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-103.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-104 Preliminary questions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-104.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-105 Limiting evidence that is not admissible against other parties or for other purposes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-105.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-106 Remainder of or related writings or recorded statements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-106.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-201 Judicial notice of adjudicative facts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-201.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-301 Presumptions in civil cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-301.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-302 Presumptions in criminal cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-302.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-401 Test for relevant evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-401.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-402 Relevant evidence generally admissible--Irrelevant evidence inadmissible](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-402.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-403 Excluding relevant evidence for prejudice, confusion, waste of time, or other reasons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-403.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-404 Character evidence--Crimes or other acts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-404.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-405 Methods of proving character](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-405.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-103. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.