It's All About The Law™

Do you remember when you became an attorney? You took an oath.

Do you remember the oath you took?

Here is a quick summary of some oaths.

Every officer in the United States government, other than the President, recites the following Oath of Office:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Emphasis added.

This oath dates to the period immediately following the initial ratification of the United States.

It was expanded by Abraham Lincoln, who “ordered all federal civilian employees within the executive branch to take an expanded oath.” Even postal employees take the oath. 39 U.S.C. Section 1011.

The oath of the President of the United States is in the Constitution: “I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Emphasis added.

Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court take two oaths. First, they take the same oath as every officer in the U.S. government (above). Second, they take the Judicial Oath: “I, ________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as [TITLE] under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God. 28 U.S.C. Section 453.

Emphasis added.

In Kentucky, Section 228 of the Kentucky Constitution requires “Members of the General Assembly and all officers, before they enter upon the execution of the duties of their respective offices, and all members of the bar, before they enter upon the practice of their profession, shall take the following oath or affirmation: I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue a citizen thereof, and that I will faithfully execute, to the best of my ability, the office of _______ according to law; and I do further solemnly swear (or affirm) that since the adoption of the present Constitution, I, being a citizen of this State, have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this State nor out of it, nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons, nor have I acted as second in carrying a challenge, nor aided or assisted any person thus offending, so help me God.”

Emphasis added.

If you aren’t in Kentucky or you don’t work for the United States government, think about the oath you took in your state.

As an attorney, the oath you took requires you to (at least) support the Constitution of the United States.

How often do you think about it? Are you doing it?

Are you supporting the Constitution of the United States?

And note that these questions apply to everyone employed in any government-related job. I say this because if you are employed in any government-related job, you took an oath.

And that oath requires you to (at least) support the Constitution of the United States. Just like everyone from the President on down.

Do you agree or disagree with what I’m saying?

Please post your comments and opinions on this subject.

Thanks,
Larry