Section 640. Swearing the Trial Jury to Hear the Cause

(A) After all jurors have been selected, the jury, including any alternates, shall be sworn as a body to hear the cause.

(B) The following oath shall be administered:

‘‘You do solemnly swear by Almighty God and those of you who affirm do declare and affirm that you will well and truly try the issue joined between the Commonwealth and the defendant(s), and a true verdict render according to the evidence.’’

Comment

The bracketed words in the oath shall be inserted when any of the prospective jurors choose to affirm rather than to swear to the oath. Those persons who may administer oaths are provided for in Section 327 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 327.

Official Note

Rule 1110 adopted January 24, 1968, effective August 1, 1968; Comment revised January 28, 1983, effective July 1, 1983; renumbered Rule 640 and amended March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001.

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court’s Order at 30 Pa.B. 1477 (March 18, 2000).