Rule 30 - Jury Instructions(a) In General. Any party may request in writing that the court instruct the jury on the law as specified in the request. The request must be made at the close of the evidence or at any earlier time that the court reasonably sets. When the request is made, the requesting party must furnish a copy to every other party.(b) Ruling on a Request. The court must inform the parties before closing arguments how it intends to rule on the requested instructions.(c) Time for Giving Instructions. The court may instruct the jury before or after the arguments are completed, or at both times.(d) Objections to Instructions. A party who objects to any portion of the instructions or to a failure to give a requested instruction must inform the court of the specific objection and the grounds for the objection before the jury retires to deliberate. An opportunity must be given to object out of the jury's hearing and, on request, out of the jury's presence. Failure to object in accordance with this rule precludes appellate review, except as permitted under Rule 52(b).COMMENT TO 2016 AMENDMENTS
This rule has been redrafted to conform to the general restyling of the federal rules in 2002. It is identical to the federal rule.
Consistent with the federal rule, it includes two changes. First, paragraph (a) permits the court, in particular cases, to require that requests for jury instructions be made before trial. The rule does not preclude the practice of permitting the parties to supplement their requested instructions during the trial.
Second, the last sentence of paragraph (d) clarifies that the failure to object does not bar the limited appellate review available under the plain error standard set forth in Rule 52(b).