Opinion ID: 795984
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: issues

Text: 8 Ganier first argues that we should review the district court's decision only for plain error because the government failed to make an offer of proof in accordance with Federal Rule of Evidence 103(a). Rule 103(a) states, in relevant part: 9 (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 . . . 10 (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. 11 FED. R. EVID. 103(a). A formal offer of proof is not required, but the substance of the evidence, what it will show, and the grounds for admissibility must be made known to the court or be apparent from the context. See United States v. Crockett, 435 F.3d 1305, 1311-12 (10th Cir.2006); United States v. Moore, 425 F.3d 1061, 1068 (7th Cir.2005); United States v. Jimenez, 256 F.3d 330, 343 (5th Cir.2001), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 1140, 122 S.Ct. 1090, 151 L.Ed.2d 989 (2002); United States v. Quinn, 123 F.3d 1415, 1420 (11th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 523 U.S. 1012, 118 S.Ct. 1203, 140 L.Ed.2d 331 (1998); cf. Waltzer v. Transidyne Gen. Corp., 697 F.2d 130, 134 (6th Cir.1983) (Since the trial court was aware of, and the transcript discloses, the general nature of the evidence which was excluded, this issue may be considered on appeal.) (citation omitted). 12 It is undisputed that the government did not make a formal offer of proof in this case. The government would have been well advised to make a formal offer of proof, as the district court was left to discern the substance of Drueck's testimony from Ganier's written motion and the parties' arguments the next morning. Rule 103(a) does not require a formal offer of proof, however, and despite the shortcomings in the government's presentation, we conclude that it was adequate to warrant normal appellate review. 13 During the hearing on Ganier's motion to exclude, the government informed the court that Drueck would testify as to what he found on the computers. J.A. at 387 (Hr'g Tr. (AUSA Richardson) at 9). The government explained that Drueck had run forensic software on the three computers to generate reports of a series of search terms, including examples of particular names and terms relevant to the case. The district court had before it copies of the reports generated by the forensic software. Defense counsel gave further details, stating that Drueck had run software revealing what searches had been run at particular dates and times. J.A. at 384 (Hr'g Tr. (Thomas Dundon) at 6). As the district court's Opinion and Order excluding the evidence confirms, that court was adequately aware of the substance of the proposed evidence and what it would show. See J.A. at 368-71, 373 (Dist. Ct. Op. & Order at 1-4, 6) (describing the reports and proposed testimony). 14 Furthermore, because Ganier's motion to exclude was based on an alleged violation of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(a)(1)(G), Ganier did not argue that the proposed testimony was not admissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence. Thus, the government adequately made the grounds for admissibility known to the court simply by arguing that it should not be excluded for failure to comply with Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(a)(1)(G). Accordingly, the government satisfied the minimum requirements of Federal Rule of Evidence 103(a), and we do not apply the plain-error doctrine in reviewing the district court's order.