S.C. R. Evid. 603
As amended through November 6, 2024
Before testifying, every witness shall be required to declare that the witness will testify truthfully, by oath or affirmation administered in a form calculated to awaken the witness' conscience and impress the witness' mind with the duty to do so.
S.C. R. Evid. 603
This rule is identical to the federal rule which sets forth the common law tenet that a witness is required to take an oath or affirmation to tell the truth before being allowed to testify. See 98 C.J.S. Witnesses § 320(a) (1957). The use of an affirmation instead of an oath is consistent with prior law. See S.C. Code Ann. § 19-1-40 (1985); Rule 43(d), SCRCP.
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