2017 Maryland Code
Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Title 2 - Court Personnel
Subtitle 1 - Officers, Oaths, and Bonds
§ 2-104. Oaths or affirmations

  • (a) In general. -- Every auditor, clerk, sheriff, constable, commissioner, surveyor, or other officer before he assumes the duties of his office, shall take and sign the oath or affirmation prescribed by the Constitution.
  • (b) Deputies. -- Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, every deputy clerk or sheriff shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I, A.B., do swear (or affirm) that I will not for lucre or malice delay any person applying to me for any business belonging to the office I officiate in, and that I will not directly or indirectly ask, take, exact, demand, or receive from or charge to any such person to my own use any fee or reward whatsoever for any services I may do as deputy of the said office, and that in making out the office fees I will not wittingly or willingly charge other or higher fees than are allowed by law."
  • (c) Oath of deputy sheriff in St. Mary's and Charles counties. --
    • (1) In addition to the oath or affirmation required under subsection (b) of this section, in St. Mary's County, every deputy sheriff shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I, A.B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America and to the State of Maryland; that I will serve honestly and faithfully to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Maryland; that I will enforce the laws of St. Mary's County, and the State of Maryland; and that I will obey the orders of the Sheriff and of my superior officers according to the rules and regulations of the Sheriff's Office, St. Mary's County and the State of Maryland."
    • (2) In addition to the oath or affirmation required under subsection (b) of this section, in Charles County, every deputy sheriff shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I, A.B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America and to the State of Maryland; that I will serve honestly and faithfully to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Maryland; that I will enforce the laws of Charles County, and the State of Maryland; and that I will obey the orders of the Sheriff and of my superior officers according to the rules and regulations of the Sheriff's Office, Charles County and the State of Maryland."
  • (d) Montgomery County and Washington County. -- In Montgomery County and Washington County, every deputy clerk or deputy sheriff shall take and sign the oath or affirmation prescribed by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.
  • (e) Before whom taken. --
    • (1) Except as authorized by Article I, § 10 of the Maryland Constitution, every officer, except the clerk of the circuit court of a county or an appellate court, shall take the oath before the clerk of the circuit court.
    • (2) Except as provided in Article I, § 10 of the Maryland Constitution, the clerk of a circuit court shall take the oath before a judge of the court.
    • (3) The clerk of an appellate court shall take the oath before the Governor.
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