US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 842

Art. 42. Oaths

(a)
Before performing their respective duties, military judges, members of general and special courts-martial, trial counsel, assistant trial counsel, defense counsel, assistant or associate defense counsel, reporters, and interpreters shall take an oath to perform their duties faithfully. The form of the oath, the time and place of the taking thereof, the manner of recording the same, and whether the oath shall be taken for all cases in which these duties are to be performed or for a particular case, shall be as prescribed in regulations of the Secretary concerned. These regulations may provide that an oath to perform faithfully duties as a military judge, trial counsel, assistant trial counsel, defense counsel, or assistant or associate defense counsel may be taken at any time by any judge advocate or other person certified to be qualified or competent for the duty, and if such an oath is taken it need not again be taken at the time the judge advocate or other person is detailed to that duty.
(b)
Each witness before a court-martial shall be examined on oath.

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 51Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(18)82 Stat. 1339Pub. L. 98–20997 Stat. 1393(, ; , , ; , §§ 2(e), 3(f), , , 1395.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

842(a)

842(b)

50:617(a).

50:617(b).

May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 1 (Art. 42), 64 Stat. 121.

In subsection (a), the word “all” and the word “the” before the words “members”, “trial”, “defense”, and “reporter” are omitted as surplusage.

section 1 of Title 1In subsections (a) and (b), the words “or affirmation” are omitted as covered by the definition of the word “oath” in .

In subsection (b), the words “Each witness” are substituted for the words “All witnesses”.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 98–2091983—Subsec. (a). struck out “, law specialist,” after “judge advocate” in two places, substituted “assistant or associate defense counsel” for “assistant defense counsel”.

Pub. L. 90–6321968—Subsec. (a). struck out requirement that the oath given to court-martial personnel be taken in the presence of the accused and provided that the form of the oath, the time and place of its taking, the manner of recording thereof, and whether the oath shall be taken for all cases or for a particular case shall be as prescribed by regulations of the Secretary concerned and contemplated secretarial regulations allowing the administration of an oath to certified legal personnel on a one-time basis.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–209section 12(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–209section 801 of this titleAmendment by effective first day of eighth calendar month beginning after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–632section 4 of Pub. L. 90–632section 801 of this titleAmendment by effective first day of tenth month following October 1968, see , set out as a note under .