How do we swear in???

Question

Think about this...
As a defendent on trial.....you must be sworn in....
Your hand must be placed on a Bible....
And you must...

"Tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God."

How do you tell the prisoners at Gitmo to do that!

The Bible means nothing to them!!

So how do we know they are telling the truth under oath??!!

Answer 1

Newcomers to court seemed shocked by people that lie under oath. After a while, you just expect it. Every now & then you get a truthful defendant - sometimes I thank them after I cross examine them.
What's the alternative to your own oath or affirmation to tell the truth? Unfortunately there is no Golden Lasso like Wonder Woman has

Answer 2

I was an intern at a Circuit Court and saw too many people be sworn in to count. At least in Maryland, they do not use a Bible, and there is no reference to God. The oath I always heard was "You hereby solemnly swear, or affirm, under the penalties of perjury, that the responses given, and statements made, are true to the best of your knowledge."

Answer 3

Your assumption is not correct.

There is no requirement to swear on a Bible or to God.
In fact, the Supreme Court has repeated held that individuals cannot be required to do so, for constitutional reasons.

The standard is to swear (or affirm) an oath to tell the truth, and that the individual understands the concequences of perjury.

It's a procedural formality to demarc when they can be charged with perjury from other situations where they cannot.

Answer 4

True. They don't care about any bible. Which is why someone
from prison goes on trial say for injuring a guard, their presence won't be needed just their lawyer.

Answer 5

First of all, a defendant is NOT required to testify in court, and, most of them choose not to. In the event they do testify, they are permitted EITHER to swear on the Bible, or affirm without any book whatsoever. At any rate, one's word is only as good as one's word, book or no.

Answer 6

Does it really matter?