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No. You may be sworn in by taking a sacred oath that binds your conscience, for example by swearing on The Bible, or you may affirm or promise to tell the truth without religious belief.-from http://www.plea.org/freepubs/bwc/witness.htm
It is optional. You can just promise to tell the truth.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoNo not Yet anyway
Added: (in the US) Actually the practice of swearing-in witnesses by having them place their right hand on the Bible as they swore an oath to tell the truth was quite common. It has since fallen out of favor and I feel pretty safe in saying that it is probably not used anywhere in the US judicial system in this day and age.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoWitnesses in court are frequently called upon to make oaths or affirmations to the the truth in their testimony. The courts themselves will enforce this requirement and decide the appropriate punishment for untruthful testimony, but it is also traditional to make the oath a religious one, to affirm in the mind of the witness the absolute need to be open and honest in all statements made. The Bible serves as a reminder of that religious obligation.
Those whose religion or personal beliefs do not permit making a religious oath on the Bible can simply make an affirmation, which has exactly the same force in law.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoYes, today I watched our new mayor, city clerk and 4 new city council members sworn in. Every one had their hand on a bible while taking their oath.
Added: Were the Mayor, Clerk, and Council Members sworn-in in a COURT proceeding? If so they were probably Christian believers, and may have chosen to give their oath on the Bible.
HOWEVER - (in the US) in both criminal and civil court proceedings this practice has fallen into disuse because of the fact that many witnesses espouse no religious faith, or a faith other than Christianity. The virtually universal custom now is simply to swear on your own oath to testify truthfully.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoYes and no. In the United States, before you testify, you have the option of swearing on a Bible, or if you prefer, you can simply "affirm" (pledge) that you will tell the truth. In earlier times, only a Bible oath was used, because there was a myth that only religious people would be honest. But as the United States became more multicultural and diverse, attitudes towards secular people, atheists, agnostics, and members of minority religions became more tolerant. Thus, the courts began to recognize either swearing or affirming. In either case, the person makes a vow to be truthful. As for other countries, many are now following this modern custom of giving the person the option of swearing on a Bible or making a pledge to be truthful. However, countries that still are very religious or practice a theocratic form of government still require that a person swear on a copy of the holy book before testifying.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago"do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
I do
------or------
I don't (not very common)
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The Puritans would have been tried in?
The Star Court
What is it called if someone has been charged with a crime but has not been tried in a court?
indicted
Which branch can review a case tried in a lower court if an appeal has been made?
The Court of Appeals.
What gives a court authority to address a case after it has been tried in a lower court?
Appellate jurisdiction
Which branch can review a case tried in a lower court in an appeal has been made?
The Court of Appeals.
What is a physician called who has been charged with a crime but has not yet been tried in a court of law?
Accused
Does double jeopardy apply when a defendant is tried with armed robbery after aquittal in federal court?
If he had been re-tried in federal court for exactly the same charge it would have been double jeapordy. If he was tired in another court system for even a a slightly altered charge it would not.
What court hears cases after the case has been tried before?
An appellate court. This court specializes in hearing cases that people request for retrial (appeals).
Can a permanent resident be admitted to the US Supreme Court Bar?
If they are a licensed attorney and have been practicing for three years, and receive a nomination, anyone can apply to be sworn in to the Supreme Court Bar. They normally do a swearing in on a regular basis.
Who was tried and executed by an Iraqi court?
I'm sure many people have been tried and executed by Iraqi courts. You may be referring to Saddam Hussein.
What was the case called that tried to band guns all together?
(in the US) there never has been such a case brought to court.
Why use the Bible in court?
The bible is used because Christianity is the majority in the US. However, most courts are swearing the oath without the bible now. The ACLU and other groups that advocate for separation of church and state are continually challenging the use of the bible in public courts. If you are asked to swear an oath on the bible, and you are not Christian, you should refuse to swear on the bible.Answerbecause for 2,000 years the bible has been a benchmark for echical conduct and appropriate interpersonal dealings. when used properly and in context, it provides the answers that some people haven't been raised to understand. many people don't know that things like "the golden rule" are direct quotes from the bible. if you had ever read the whole thing, you may be able to understand why it is so usefull in situations of conflict.
