Baffled. I am truly baffled that there is no standard witness or juror’s oath or affirmation in our court system. Nor does there appear to be a standard court instruction to inform those to be sworn in of any alternative affirmation. Considering the number of different religious sects, organizations, beliefs, non-beliefs and churches in Middle America alone, the Missouri courts seem to believe that witnesses and jurors can only swear to a single god. What is wrong with this picture?
To whose god are you swearing?
Thursday, October 25, 2007 | 10:00 a.m. CDT;
updated 10:50 a.m. CST, Wednesday, February 4, 2009
To read the full article, please sign up or login.
Get full access to the Columbia Missourian on your computer, phone, and tablet for just $5.95 per month. Or click here for full access for one day for only 99 cents.
* Unlimited access on your iPhone, iPad, Android phone and Android tablet
* All the high-quality, in-depth journalism of the Columbia Missourian and Vox Magazine, updated 24/7
* Your news. Your device. Your time.
If you'd like to read more about the value of being a member, read this column from the Missourian's executive editor, Tom Warhover.
advertisements