I'm doing Jury service at the moment. This is mostly pretty interesting as it's the first (and hopefully only) time that I'll ever have anything to do with a real court. Until now my only experiences have been via books and the media, which tends to exagerate the drama and underplay the waiting around.
Being a Godless type, I chose to affirm rather than swear on a holy book. It's good that one can do this, but the wording of the affirmation is so much more clumsy than that of the oath. I feel let down by whoever drafted it, and wish they might have tried for the same terse majesty.
Compare: I swear by Almighty God that I will faithfully try the defendant and give a true verdict according to the evidence.
with I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will faithfully try the defendant and give a true verdict according to the evidence.
