Do You Solemnly Swear?
AT A GLANCE
• Courtroom oaths today often skip the Bible and rely on trust.
• Perjury is common but rarely punished.
• In the past, lying in court brought harsh penalties.
• Oaths once held deep religious and legal importance.
If called to testify in court, the average American would likely expect to place his left hand on a Bible, raise his right hand, and solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, “so help you God.”
We know the scene by rote, not from personal experience, but thanks to courtroom dramas on television and the silver screen. In fact, the Bible is more commonly a stage prop than guarantor of truth. The modern legal world instead relies on the honor system to ensure witness integrity. You can imagine how that’s working out.
“It’s so obvious that they’re lying!” Scott Schara told The New American in June after the conclusion of his medical malpractice suit. Schara v. Ascension Health charged defendants with the wrongful death of his Down syndrome teen, and to date is the only jury trial in the United States for a death officially declared to be caused by Covid.
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- Digital Insider Report
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- Unlimited access to past issues
- Cancel anytime.
- Renews automatically