AN ACT CONCERNING STATUTORY OATHS (Draft 1 - November 17, 2000)
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 1-25 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:
The forms of oaths shall be as follows, to wit:
FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, EXECUTIVE
AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS.
You do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the state of Connecticut, so long as you continue a citizen thereof; and that you will faithfully discharge, according to law, the duties of the office of .... to the best of your abilities; so help you God.
FOR NOTARIES PUBLIC.
You do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the state of Connecticut; and that you will faithfully discharge, according to law, the duties of the office of notary public to the best of your abilities; so help you God.
FOR ELECTORS.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will be true and faithful to the constitutions and governments of the State of Connecticut and the United States of America; that the statements made in your application for admission as an elector are true and complete; and that your privileges as an elector are not forfeited by reason of conviction of a felony; so help you God.
FOR ATTORNEYS.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will do no falsehood, nor consent to any to be done in court, and, if you know of any to be done, you will give information thereof to the judges, or one of them, that it may be reformed; you will not wittingly or willingly promote, sue or cause to be sued, any false or unlawful suit, or give aid, or consent, to the same; you will delay no person for lucre or malice; but will exercise the office of attorney, within the court wherein you may practice, according to the best of your learning and discretion, and with fidelity, as well to the court as to your client; so help you God.
[FOR GRAND JURORS IMPANELED IN COURT.
You solemnly swear by the name of the ever-living God (or affirm, as the case may be,) that you will diligently inquire after, and due presentment make, of all breaches of law that shall come to your knowledge, according to your charge; the secrets of your cause, your own, and your fellows’, you will duly observe and keep; you will present no person from envy, hatred or malice; neither will you leave any person unpresented, from love fear or affection, or in hope of reward; but you will present cases truly, as they come to your knowledge, according to the best of your understanding and according to the law; so help you God.]
FOR PETIT JURORS IN CRIMINAL CASES.
You solemnly swear [by the name of the ever-living God,] (or
affirm, as the case may be) that you will, without respect of any persons or
favor of any person, [well and truly try, and true deliverance make]
DECIDE THIS CASE between the state of Connecticut and the defendant (OR
DEFENDANTS) [, whom you shall have in charge, according to law and]
BASED ON the evidence [before you; your own counsel, and your fellows’,
you will duly observe and keep; you will speak nothing, to any one, of the
business or matters you have in hand, but among yourselves, nor will you suffer
any one to speak to you about the same, but] GIVEN in court AND ON THE
LAWS OF THIS STATE, AS EXPLAINED BY THE JUDGE; THAT YOU WILL NOT TALK TO EACH
OTHER ABOUT THIS CASE UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO AND THAT YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO
ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THIS CASE UNTIL IT IS OVER; AND THAT WHEN YOU REACH A VERDICT,
YOU WILL KEEP IT SECRET UNTIL THE VERDICT IS ANNOUNCED IN COURT; so help you
God.
FOR ALTERNATE JURORS IN CRIMINAL CASES.
You solemnly swear [by the name of the ever-living God,] (or
affirm, as the case may be) that, if [called upon to] YOU
become a member of the jury [to determine this cause,] FOR THIS CASE,
THAT you will [, without respect of persons or favor of any person, well
and truly try, and true deliverance make,] DECIDE THIS CASE between the
state of Connecticut and the defendant (OR DEFENDANTS) [, whom you shall
have in charge, according to law and] BASED ON the evidence [before
you; your own counsel, and your fellows’, you will duly observe and keep; you
will speak nothing, to any one, of the business or matters you have in hand, but
among yourselves, nor will you suffer any one to speak to you about the same,
but] GIVEN in court AND ON THE LAWS OF THIS STATE, AS EXPLAINED BY THE
JUDGE; THAT YOU WILL NOT TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THIS CASE UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO
DO SO AND THAT YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THIS CASE UNTIL IT IS
OVER; AND THAT WHEN YOU REACH A VERDICT, YOU WILL KEEP IT SECRET UNTIL THE
VERDICT IS ANNOUNCED IN COURT; so help you God.
FOR JURORS IN CIVIL CASES.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will [well
and truly try the issue or issues, now to be given you in charge,]
DECIDE THIS CASE between the plaintiff and the defendant (or plaintiffs and
defendants) [according to] BASED ON the evidence given [you]
in court [,] and ON the laws of this state, AS EXPLAINED BY THE
JUDGE; [and accordingly a true verdict give; your own counsel, and your
fellows’, you will duly observe and keep; you will speak nothing, to any one,
of the business or matters you have in hand, but among yourselves, nor will you
suffer any one to speak to you about the same, but in court; and, when you have
agreed upon any] THAT YOU WILL NOT TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THIS CASE
UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO AND THAT YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THIS
CASE UNTIL IT IS OVER; AND THAT WHEN YOU REACH A verdict, you will keep it
secret until [you deliver it up] THE VERDICT IS ANNOUNCED in
court; so help you God.
FOR ALTERNATE JURORS IN CIVIL CASES.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that, if [called
upon to] YOU become a member of the jury [to determine this
cause] FOR THIS CASE THAT you will [well and truly try the
issue or issues, now to be given you in charge,] DECIDE THE CASE
between the plaintiff and the defendant (or plaintiffs and defendants) [according
to] BASED ON the evidence given [you] in court [,]
and ON the laws of this state, AS EXPLAINED BY THE JUDGE; [, and
accordingly a true verdict give; your own counsel, and your fellows’, you will
duly observe and keep; you will speak nothing, to any one, of the business or
matters you have in hand, but among yourselves, nor will you suffer any one to
speak to you about the same, but in court; and, when you have agreed upon any]
THAT YOU WILL NOT TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THIS CASE UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO
AND THAT YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THIS CASE UNTIL IT IS OVER; AND
THAT WHEN YOU REACH A verdict, you will keep it secret until [you
deliver it up] THE VERDICT IS ANNOUNCED in court; so help you God.
VOIR DIRE.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will [well
and truly] answer [such interrogatories as shall be put to you,]
TRUTHFULLY ALL QUESTIONS THAT YOU ARE ASKED under the direction of the court, [not
immediatelt relating to the merits of the cause now in question]; so
help you God. THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WILL BE ASKED WILL NOT BE ABOUT THE MERITS
OF THE CASE FOR WHICH THIS JURY IS BEING SELECTED.
FOR WITNESSES.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that the evidence you shall give, concerning the case now in question, shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; so help you God.
(NEW) FOR GRAND JURY WITNESSES.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that the evidence you shall give, concerning this investigation into a crime or crimes, shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God.
FOR WITNESSES TWELVE YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER.
You promise that you will tell the truth.
FOR AN INTERPRETER IN A CRIMINAL CASE.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will [make
a true interpretation of the information (or indictment) upon which the accused
stands charged, in the language which the accused understands and can speak, and
of all the questions which may be propounded to the accused under the direction
of the court; and that you will make a like interpretation of the plea to said
information (or indictment) and of the answers to such questions to this court
(or to the court and jury) in the English language, according to your best skill
and judgment;] INTERPRET ACCURATELY THE INFORMATION (OR INDICTMENT)
THAT CHARGES THE ACCUSED WITH A CRIME, ALL QUESTIONS THAT THE ACCUSED MAY BE
ASKED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COURT, AND THE ACCUSED’S PLEA TO THE
INFORMATION (OR INDICTMENT) IN A LANGUAGE THE ACCUSED CAN UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK;
THAT YOU WILL INTERPRET ACCURATELY THE ACCUSED’S ANSWERS TO THE COURT (OR
COURT AND JURY) IN ENGLISH; AND THAT YOU WILL MAKE ALL INTERPRETATIONS TO THE
BEST OF YOUR SKILL AND JUDGEMENT; so help you God.
FOR AN INTERPRETER IN COURT.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will [make
a true interpretation of the oath to be administered to the witness, in the
language which the witness understands and can speak, and of all the questions
which may be propounded to the witness under the direction of the court; and
that you will make a like interpretation of the answers to such questions to
this court (or to the court and jury) in the English language, according to your
best skill and judgment;] INTERPRET ACCURATELY THE OATH TO BE
ADMINISTERED TO THE WITNESS AND ALL QUESTIONS THAT THE WITNESS MAY BE ASKED
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COURT IN A LANGUAGE THE WITNESS CAN UNDERSTAND AND
SPEAK; THAT YOU WILL INTERPRET ACCURATELY THE WITNESS’S ANSWERS TO THE COURT
(OR COURT AND JURY) IN ENGLISH; AND THAT YOU WILL MAKE ALL INTERPRETATIONS TO
THE BEST OF YOUR SKILL AND JUDGEMENT; so help you god.
FOR AN INTERPRETER FOR A DEAF OR HEARING IMPAIRED JUROR.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will [make
a true interpretation] ACCURATELY INTERPRET to a deaf or hearing
impaired juror [of] the juror orientation program, [of]
any oath to be administered to the juror, [of] all testimony
and other relevant [colloquy] CONVERSATION, and [of]
all [the] questions [which may be propounded to]
the juror MAY BE ASKED under the direction of the court; [and]
that you will [make a like interpretation of] ACCURATELY
INTERPRET the juror’s answers to this court, in [the] English
[language, according to your best skill and judgment]; and that
you will [refrain from participating] NOT PARTICIPATE in any
manner in the deliberations of the jury other than making [a true]
AN ACCURATE interpretation of jurors’ remarks [made] during
deliberation [according to your best skill and judgment]; THAT
YOU WILL MAKE ALL INTERPRETATIONS TO THE BEST OF YOUR SKILL AND JUDGMENT; and
that you will [refrain from having communications] NOT
COMMUNICATE with anyone outside the jury concerning the business or matters in
the jurors’ hands; so help you God.
FOR ASSESSORS, TO SUBSCRIBE UPON ABSTRACT.
I, ...., assessor of the town of ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I verily believe that all the lists, and the abstract of said town for the year 19.., are made up and perfected according to law.
FOR PLAINTIFF, WHEN INDIFFERENT PERSON IS DEPUTED TO
SERVE WRIT.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you verily believe the plaintiff is (or plaintiffs are) in danger of losing the debt (damage or other thing) in this writ, unless an indifferent person shall be deputed for the immediate service of the same; so help you God.
FOR MEMBERS OF A COURT-MARTIAL.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will truly try and determine, according to the evidence given in court, the matters depending between this state and the officer (or officers) now to be tried; that you will not divulge the sentence of the court until the same shall have been approved or disapproved, according to law; neither will you, at any time, disclose the vote or opinion of any member of the court, unless required by due course of law; so help you God.
FOR THE JUDGE-ADVOCATE OF A COURT-MARTIAL.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will not, at any time whatever, disclose the vote or opinion of any member of any court-martial in which you may be called to act, unless required by due course of law, nor divulge the sentence of any such court, unless the same shall have been approved or disapproved, according to law; and that you will faithfully and impartially do the duty of judge-advocate, according to your best ability; so help you God.
FOR OFFICIALS APPOINTED TO SERVE IN ANY POLLING
PLACE IN ANY ELECTION OR PRIMARY.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will faithfully discharge, according to law, your duties as ...., to the best of your ability; and that you will serve in this election or primary as the case may be, as an official, completely impartial with respect to any candidate or any political party; so help you God.
FOR ALL OTHER PERSONS OF WHOM AN OATH IS REQUIRED.
You solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will faithfully discharge, according to law, your duties as .... to the best of your ability; so help you God.
Sec. 2. The effective date of this act shall be July 1, 2001.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: To eliminate and update antiquated language in certain statutory oaths.