New answers tagged rules-of-court
4
In common law countries, the first law allowing affirmation in court was the Quaker Act 1695 . This was limited specifically to Quakers and didn't permit them to give evidence in criminal proceeedings or to serve on juries. The form of the affirmation given is:
I A.B. do declare in the Presence of Almighty God the Witnesse of the
Truth of what I say.
...
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An oath, which is what you make when you "swear" something, is formally speaking a promise made to God upon which you expect others to rely, and is one for of statement that can give rise to a perjury conviction.
An affirmation is a statement that you state is true under penalty of perjury made only to other men and women and not to God. It is preferred by ...
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No difference as to the legal effect.
The two versions exist simply to fit religious and secular persons respectively.
I am looking for code, statute, law, or perhaps a written reference to tradition.
Depends on the jurisdiction, but will basically say the same everywhere where the two forms are used.
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