Senate Chamber

We are committed to fulfilling our oaths. Your oath is a bit different from our oath because our roles are different. The judicial oath promises independence and impartiality. In contrast, the legislative oath promises the exercise of judgment in the service of the interests and prosperity of the state. But despite these differences, both the legislative and judicial oaths are rooted in the promise to uphold the constitution of the state of Georgia and the constitution of The United States.

When we take these oaths, we make a promise to our communities. We make a promise to those who elected us. We make a promise to our families. And for many of us, we also make a promise to God. This aspect of the oath as a promise to God has shaped the history of our legal system.

In fact, in colonial England and for most of our history as a state, criminal defendants were prohibited from testifying under oath, lest in their desire for acquittal, they brought upon themselves divine judgment. Georgia was the last state in the union to change that rule. We didn't change it until 1962. In the Catholic tradition, Saint Thomas More is the patron saint of lawyers. But he wasn't just a lawyer, he also served as speaker of the House of Commons and then Lord Chancellor of England under Henry the eighth.

He's a great example of both judges and legislators to emulate. He ultimately gave his life to avoid breaking his oath. His commitment to keep that promise to God is reflected, no matter the cost, is reflected in his last words, which characterized himself as the king's good servant and God's first. That's pretty good. But of course, as we like to remind our British friends every July 4 and especially during this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of American independence, here in The United States, we don't have a king.

As the constitution makes clear, here the people are sovereign. And so, as and so as you return to your legislative business and we return to our judicial business, let us all commit to keep our oaths to the Constitution and the rule of law it embodies. If we do, we will truly be the people's good servants as we seek to be God's first. Thank you. May God bless each of you, our great state of Georgia, and The United States Of America.

Thank you, Jesse Pearson. Thoroughly enjoyed that. We greatly appreciate that, and we greatly appreciate all the judiciary members here, and thank you all for your service and dedication to the state of Georgia. Mister Doorkeeper, please escort the chief justice and justice of the Supreme Court and the judges of the Court of Appeals for the chamber at this time. Recognize the pro tem for a motion.

Thank you, mister president. I know we've got a lot of work to do for Georgians, so I move that this joint session of the Georgia General Assembly be dissolved.

The president pro tem has moved that the joint session be dissolved. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. No.

Ayes clearly have it. Have a wonderful day, everybody.