§ 49-10 Use of Bible in administration of oaths
No officer of this Commonwealth, or any political subdivision thereof, shall, in administering an oath in pursuance of law, require or request any person taking the oath to kiss the Holy Bible, or any book or books thereof, but persons being sworn for any purpose may be required to place their hand on the Holy Bible.
Any officer violating this section shall be subject to a fine of $100.
History
This law was first created in 1920. The record of its establishment is cataloged at page 54 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1920 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1942, when it was recodified as § 278a.
1920, p. 54; Michie Code 1942, § 278a.