Preamble.
The following
Oath of
Office to be
taken by all
Judge, &c.
Oath of a
Judge or
Justice: |
WHEREAS the Oath of Judge or Justice (appointed to be taken by
the Statute of the Eighteenth of Edward the Third) does not, in
many Particulars, provide for the Constitution of this Province;
II. Be it therefore
Enacted,
by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary,
by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Governor, and
the Upper and
Lower Houses of Assembly, and the Authority of the same, That at some
convenient
Time, after the End of this present Session of Assembly, and before
the last Day of November next, the following Oath shall be taken,
as the proper
Oath of Office, by the Members of the Court of Appeals, as Judges to
correct Errors in Judgment and other Proceedings at law, the Justices of
the Provincial and County Courts, and the mayor, Recorded, and Aldermen
of the City of Annapolis, for the Time being, changing only what
is to be
changed, according to the different Stations of such Magistrates, viz.
" You shall Swear, that as a Justice of the Provincial
Court of Maryland,
" in all Articles of his Lordship's Commission to you directed, you
shall do equal
" Law and Right to all the King's Subjects, Rich and Poor, according to
the Laws,
" Customs, and Directions of the Act of Assembly of this Province, so far
forth
" as they provide; and where they are silent, according to the Laws, Statutes,
" and reasonable Customs of England, as used and practiced within
this Province;
" and not delay any Person of common Right, for any Cause or Pretence whatsoever.
" And in case any letters, or Commandments, shall come to you, contrary
" to Law, that you do nothing by them, but cause them to be entered on
Record,
" and certify the King, the Lord Proprietary, or the Governor (for the
" Time being) of them, and proceed to execute the law, notwithstanding
the same
" Letters or Commandments. That you shall hold your Courts according
to the
" Acts of Assembly, and the Directions in your Commission. That you
shall do
" and procure the Profit of the Lord Proprietary, in all Things where you
may
" lawfully and reasonably do the same. And that you shall not debar
or hinder the
" Prosecution of Justice, nor take any Gift, Briber or Fee, for delaying
or rendering
" Judgment; but shall behave yourself Justly, Honestly and Faithfully,
to the
" best of your Knowledge and Understanding, so long as you shall continue
in the
" said Office. So help you GOD."
III. And be it
likewise Enacted, That the same Oath shall be taken by the
Members of the Court of Appeals, as Judges to correct Errors in Judgments
and other Proceedings at Common Law, the Justices of the Provincial and |
