Case Title: In Re: Oath Of Admission To The Florida Bar

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC11-1702

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2011-09-12T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
_____________ 
 
No. SC11-1702 
_____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  OATH OF ADMISSION TO THE FLORIDA BAR 
 
[September 12, 2011] 
 
 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
Today we revise the Oath of Attorney administered to new members of The 
Florida Bar to recognize “[t]he necessity for civility in the inherently contentious 
setting of the adversary process.”  In re Snyder, 472 U.S. 634, 647 (1985).1 
 
In recent years, concerns have grown about acts of incivility among 
members of the legal profession.  Among others, the American Board of Trial 
Advocates (ABOTA) has sought to increase awareness of the importance of 
civility in the practice of law.  The Code of Professionalism of ABOTA contains a 
pledge to “[b]e respectful in my conduct toward my adversaries.”  ABOTA Code 
of Professionalism, http://www.abota.org/index.cfm?pg=professionalism.  Since 
                                         
 
1.  See art. V, § 15, Fla. Const. 
 
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2003, the Lawyer’s Oath sworn by admittees of the South Carolina Bar has 
contained the following pledge:  “To opposing parties and their counsel, I pledge 
fairness, integrity, and civility, not only in court, but also in all written and oral 
communications.”  S.C. App. Ct. R. 402(k)(3).  We have determined that a similar 
pledge should be added to Florida’s oath. 
 
Recognizing the importance of respectful and civil conduct in the practice of 
law, we therefore revise the Oath of Admission to The Florida Bar as set forth 
below.  New language is indicated by underscoring. 
OATH OF ADMISSION 
 
 
I do solemnly swear: 
 
 
I will support the Constitution of the United States and the 
Constitution of the State of Florida; 
 
 
I will maintain the respect due to courts of justice and judicial 
officers; 
 
 
I will not counsel or maintain any suit or proceedings which 
shall appear to me to be unjust, nor any defense except such as I 
believe to be honestly debatable under the law of the land; 
 
 
I will employ, for the purpose of maintaining the causes 
confided in me such means only as are consistent with truth and 
honor, and will never seek to mislead the judge or jury by any artifice 
or false statement of fact or law; 
 
 
I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the secrets 
of my clients, and will accept no compensation in connection with 
their business except from them or with their knowledge and 
approval; 
 
 
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To opposing parties and their counsel, I pledge fairness, 
integrity, and civility, not only in court, but also in all written and oral 
communications; 
 
 
I will abstain from all offensive personality and advance no fact 
prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or witness, unless 
required by the justice of the cause with which I am charged; 
 
 
I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, 
the cause of the defenseless or oppressed, or delay anyone’s cause for 
lucre or malice.  So help me God. 
 
This oath shall be effective immediately, and no rehearing will be permitted in this 
case. 
 
It is so ordered. 
CANADY, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, POLSTON, LABARGA, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur.