Texas § GV.432.067 - OATHS

§ GV.432.067. OATHS

OATHS. Before performing their respective duties, military judges, members of general and special courts-martial, trial counsel, assistant trial counsel, defense counsel, assistant defense counsel, reporters, and interpreters shall take an oath to perform their duties faithfully. The oath or affirmation shall be taken in the presence of the accused, and shall read as follows: (1) for court members: "You, ________________, do swear (or affirm) that you will faithfully perform all the duties incumbent upon you as a member of this court; that you will faithfully and impartially try, according to the evidence, your conscience, and the laws and regulations provided for trials by courts-martial, the case of (the) (each) accused now before this court; and that if any doubt should arise not explained by the laws and regulations, then according to the best of your understanding and the customs of the service in like cases; that you will not divulge the findings and sentence in any case until they shall have been duly announced by the court; and that you will not disclose or discover the vote or opinion of any particular member of the court upon a challenge or upon the findings or sentence unless required to do so before a court of justice in due course of law. So help you God." (2) for a military judge: "You, ________________, do swear (or affirm) that you will faithfully and impartially perform, according to your conscience and the laws and regulations provided for trials by courts-martial, all the duties incumbent upon you as military judge of this court; that if any doubt should arise not explained by the laws and regulations, then according to the best of your understanding and the customs of the service in like cases; and that you will not divulge the findings or sentence in any case until they shall have been duly announced by the court. So help you God." (3) for a trial counsel and assistant trial counsel: "You, ________________ (and) ________________, do swear (or affirm) that you will faithfully perform the duties of trial counsel and will not divulge the findings or sentence of the court to any but the proper authority until they shall be duly disclosed. So help you God." (4) for defense counsel and assistant defense counsel: "You, ________________ (and) ________________, do swear (or affirm) that you will faithfully perform the duties of defense (and individual) counsel and will not divulge the findings or sentence of the court to any but the proper authority until they shall be duly disclosed. So help you God." (5) for a court of inquiry: (A) the recorder of a court of inquiry shall administer to the members the following oath: "You shall well and truly examine and inquire, according to the evidence, into the matter now before you without partiality, favor, affection, prejudice, or hope of reward. So help you God." (B) then the president of the court shall administer to the recorder the following oath: "You do swear that you will according to your best abilities accurately and impartially record the proceedings of the court and the evidence to be given in the case in hearing. So help you God." (6) all persons who give evidence before a court-martial or court of inquiry shall be examined on oath administered by the presiding officer in the following form: "You swear (or affirm) that the evidence you shall give in the case now in hearing shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God." (7) for a reporter or interpreter: "You swear (or affirm) that you will faithfully perform the duties of reporter (or interpreter) to this court. So help you God." Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 147, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.