Also known as: swears · swore · sworn · swearing · oath
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
To make a solemn declaration or promise under oath or affirmation to establish truthfulness or bind to a duty.
Simone Sanders, a detective, prepared an affidavit detailing observations of drug activity at a residence. She appeared before a magistrate and swore to the facts in the document. The magistrate issued a warrant based on the sworn statements.
Santiago Sanchez served written interrogatories on Silverline Industries in a contract dispute. The company's designated officer reviewed the questions and swore that the answers were true and complete before signing and returning them.
Sasha Stone was called to testify about events she observed at a construction site. Before answering any questions, she swore an oath in open court to tell the truth, impressing the duty on her conscience as required for competent testimony.
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Spencer Silver faced trial on theft charges. After the jury panel was selected and each member swore an oath to decide the case fairly, jeopardy attached and the defendant gained protection against retrial for the same offense.
Skylar Sullivan and Stella Shapiro jointly petitioned for dissolution of their marriage. Each swore under oath that the marriage was irretrievably broken, allowing the court to proceed to a finding on that issue after a hearing.
Stonehaven Properties' representative filed a petition alleging possible genetic parentage of a child. The request included a sworn statement asserting a reasonable possibility of parentage, prompting the court to order genetic testing of the relevant individuals.
The oath or affirmation must be in a form designed to impress the duty to testify truthfully on the witness's conscience. Courts accept secular affirmations as well as traditional religious oaths.
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Jeopardy attaches when the jury is empaneled and sworn. After that point the defendant is generally protected against retrial for the same offense.
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A party may obtain an order for genetic testing by submitting a sworn statement alleging a reasonable possibility that the individual is the child's genetic parent or denying parentage with facts establishing a reasonable possibility that the individual is not a genetic parent.
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No warrant shall issue but upon probable cause supported by oath or affirmation and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
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False answers under oath can expose the responding party to perjury liability and sanctions for discovery abuse.
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If both parties state under oath that the marriage is irretrievably broken, or one states it and the other does not deny it, the court shall make a finding on that issue after a hearing.
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…contains many provisions that are rules for the government of courts as well as for the legislature. Judges are required to swear to support the Constitution and to administer justice agreeably to the Constitution and laws of the United States. If judges were to be used to give effect to legislative acts repugnant to…