The Supreme Court of South Carolina

The Supreme Court of South Carolina

RE: Amendments to the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules.


ORDER


Since the Court has adopted new Lawyers and Judges Oaths, it has become necessary to amend the Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, Rule 413, SCACR, the Rules for Judicial Disciplinary Enforcement, Rule 502, SCACR, and to add a new Rule 502.1 containing the new Judges Oath. The attached amendments are effective immediately.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Jean H. Toal                                    C.J.

s/James E. Moore                             J.

s/John H. Waller, Jr.                           J.

s/E. C. Burnett, III                                J.

s/Costa M. Pleicones                        J.

Columbia, South Carolina
September 22, 2004


(1) Rule 7(a)(6), Rule 413, RLDE, SCACR, is amended to read:

violate the Lawyers Oath of office taken to practice law in this state and contained in Rule 402(k), SCACR;

(2) New Rule 7(a)(9), RJDE, Rule 502, SCACR, is added to read:

violate the Judges Oath of Office contained in Rule 502.1, SCACR.

(3) the or after Rule 7(a)(7) is moved to the end of Rule 7(a)(8), RJDE, Rule 502, SCACR and the period after (8) is replaced by a semi-colon.

(4) New Rule 502.1, SCACR, Judges Oath, is added to read:

All members of the Unified Judicial System in this state shall take the following oath of office:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that:

I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge those duties and will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States;

I pledge to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary;

I pledge, in the discharge of my duties, to treat all persons who enter the courtroom with civility, fairness, and respect;

I pledge to listen courteously, sit impartially, act promptly, and rule after careful and considerate deliberation;

I pledge to seek justice, and justice alone;

[So help me God.]