{"id":"sr:county-court-oath-and-affirmation-office-regulations-2024","name":"County Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024","slug":"county-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181384,"registerId":"vic-sr:county-court-oath-and-affirmation-office-regulations-2024-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"County Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024","content":"Version No. 001\n\n**County Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024**\n\n**S.R. No. 88/2024**\n\nVersion as at  \n13 October 2024\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objective 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Revocation 1\n\n5 Oath or affirmation of office 1\n\nSchedule 1—Oath or affirmation of office 2\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 3\n\n1 General information 3\n\n2 Table of Amendments 5\n\n3 Explanatory details 6\n\n**Version No.** **001**\n\n**County Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024**\n\n**S.R. No. 88/2024**\n\nVersion as at  \n13 October 2024\n\n\t1 Objective\n\nThe objective of these Regulations is to prescribe the form and manner of an oath of office and an affirmation of office for judicial registrars of the County Court.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 79A of the **County Court Act 1958**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 13 October 2024.\n\n\t4 Revocation\n\nThe County Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2014[[1]](#endnote-1) are **revoked**.\n\n\t5 Oath or affirmation of office\n\nFor the purposes of section 17PA(1) of the **County Court Act 1958**—\n\n(a) the prescribed form is set out in Schedule 1; and\n\n(b) the prescribed manner is that the oath or affirmation of office must be administered by the Chief Judge or another judge.\n\nSchedule 1—Oath or affirmation of office\n\nRegulation 5\n\nOath of office of judicial registrar\n\nI, [*full name*], swear by Almighty God [*or the person may name a god recognised by the person's religion*] that as a judicial registrar of the County Court in the State of Victoria, I will at all times and in all things discharge the duties of my office according to law and to the best of my knowledge and ability without fear, favour, affection or ill-will.\n\nAffirmation of office of judicial registrar\n\nI, [*full name*], solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that as a judicial registrar of the County Court in the State of Victoria, I will at all times and in all things discharge the duties of my office according to law and to the best of my knowledge and ability without fear, favour, affection or ill-will.\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe County Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024, S.R. No. 88/2024 were made on 17 September 2024 by the Governor in Council under section 79A of the **County Court Act 1958**, No. 6230/1958 and came into operation on 13 October 2024: regulation 3.\n\nThe County Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 17 September 2034 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThere are no amendments made to the County Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\n1. Reg. 4: S.R. No. 157/2014. [↑](#endnote-ref-1)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original narrow purpose: prescribing the form and manner of oaths/affirmations for judicial registrars. The 2024 version simply replaces the 2014 regulations with updated wording, without expanding scope to cover other court officers or adding substantive new requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Only 5 regulations total, with minimal text","No defined terms section — all language is plain English","Single cross-reference to the County Court Act 1958 (section 79A and 17PA)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Schedule 1 contains only the verbatim text of the oath and affirmation with blank spaces for names","Straightforward revocation of previous regulations (regulation 4) without transitional provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this does:**\n\nThese regulations set out the exact words that **judicial registrars** (a type of court official who helps run the County Court in Victoria) must say when they are sworn into their job. They also specify who can administer this oath or affirmation.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Judicial registrars** of the Victorian County Court — they must recite this oath or affirmation when taking office.\n- **The Chief Judge or another judge** — they are the only ones who can officially administer (oversee) the oath or affirmation.\n\n**The two options:**\n\nPeople taking office can choose between:\n- **An oath** — a religious promise (the person can name their own god if they prefer)\n- **An affirmation** — a non-religious, solemn promise with the same legal effect\n\nBoth versions include the same core promise: to do the job properly, follow the law, and remain impartial (\"without fear, favour, affection or ill-will\").\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis ensures judicial registrars make a formal, legally binding commitment to uphold their duties fairly and independently. It replaces the 2014 version of these rules, updating the prescribed wording for new appointees."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation appears to do exactly what its title suggests — prescribe the form of oaths and affirmations for County Court officers. There is no indication of scope creep or deviation from its original, narrow purpose. Note: the provided text is significantly truncated, limiting the depth of this assessment."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow and specific subject matter — limited to oath/affirmation wording and procedure","Applies to a small, well-defined group of people (County Court officers)","Largely administrative/ceremonial in nature with minimal interpretive complexity","The provided text is heavily truncated and repetitive, making full analysis impossible — but the underlying subject matter is inherently simple"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation prescribes the exact wording and procedure for oaths and affirmations that County Court judges and judicial officers in Victoria must make on appointment. It affects newly appointed judges and court staff running swearing‑in ceremonies, and matters because the formal pledge is required before a judge can lawfully exercise judicial powers."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument implements the procedural detail authorised by the County Court Act 1958 (s.17PA(1)) by prescribing the words and who must administer the oath; it does not expand or restrict which offices are subject to the oath as set by the primary Act. The revocation of the 2014 regulations replaces the earlier form but does not on its face change the statutory coverage established by the Act."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow subject matter: prescribes form and manner of oath/affirmation only (Reg 5, Schedule 1).","Cross-references to primary Act: authorising provision s.79A of the County Court Act 1958 and operation under s.17PA(1) (Reg 2, Reg 5).","Revocation of prior instrument (Reg 4) — potential transitional or interpretive questions if prior text differed.","Formal commencement and sunset mechanics noted (Reg 3; endnotes reference Subordinate Legislation Act sunset rule).","Minor discretionary element: requirement that the oath be administered by the Chief Judge or another judge (Reg 5(b)) concentrates the decision to judicial officers.","Religious accommodation in the oath text (option to name a god) introduces a small interpretive choice in wording (Schedule 1).","Low compliance and enforcement complexity: no new offences, fees, or regulatory regime created — administrative implementation only."],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations set the exact words and the required method for taking the oath or affirmation of office for judicial registrars of the County Court. They prescribe a single oath and a corresponding affirmation in Schedule 1 and require that the oath or affirmation be administered by the Chief Judge or another judge. The rule affects judicial registrars required to take the oath under section 17PA of the County Court Act 1958 and replaces the 2014 regulations from 13 October 2024."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/county-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024","history":"/api/acts/county-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/county-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/county-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/county-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/county-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/documents"}}