{"id":"sr:supreme-court-oath-and-affirmation-office-regulations-2024","name":"Supreme Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024","slug":"supreme-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":184312,"registerId":"vic-sr:supreme-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":"Supreme Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024","content":"Version No. 001\n\n**Supreme Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024**\n\n**S.R. No. 89/2024**\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**Supreme Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024**\n\n**S.R. No. 89/2024**\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 Supreme Court.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 129 of the **Supreme Court Act 1986**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 13 October 2024.\n\n\t4 Revocation\n\nThe Supreme 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 113GB(1) of the **Supreme Court Act 1986**—\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 Justice or another Judge of the Court.\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 Supreme Court 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 Supreme Court 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 Supreme Court (Oath and Affirmation of Office) Regulations 2024, S.R. No. 89/2024 were made on 17 September 2024 by the Governor in Council under section 129 of the **Supreme Court Act 1986**, No. 110/1986 and came into operation on 13 October 2024: regulation 3.\n\nThe Supreme 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 Supreme 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. 156/2014. [↑](#endnote-ref-1)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available content, the regulation appears to fulfil its stated purpose without scope creep — it is a straightforward procedural instrument governing the oath and affirmation process for Supreme Court officers, consistent with its original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow and specific subject matter — limited to oath/affirmation wording and procedure","Procedural in nature with little interpretive ambiguity","Affects a small, defined group of people (Supreme Court appointees)","No apparent cross-references to complex regulatory schemes","The document provided is largely a metadata shell, limiting substantive analysis"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument prescribes the formal oaths and affirmations that Supreme Court judges and court officers must make on appointment. It affects newly appointed justices and court officials and matters because those sworn promises establish their legal authority, duty to uphold the law, and public accountability. The source document appears to be a metadata shell, so content is inferred from the title and typical practice."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a direct replacement of the 2014 Regulations with the same narrow scope. It continues to do exactly what the title suggests: prescribe the oath/affirmation for judicial registrars. No expansion of scope."},"complexity_factors":["Only 5 regulations total, with 1 schedule","No defined terms in the interpretation section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the basic authorising provision (Supreme Court Act 1986)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward command structure: 'the prescribed form is set out in Schedule 1'","Schedule 1 contains only template text with fill-in-the-blank fields for the person's name and optional deity"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese Regulations set out the exact words that **judicial registrars** of the Victorian Supreme Court must say when they are sworn into office. A judicial registrar is a senior court officer who handles certain judicial duties (like managing cases and making some decisions) but isn't a full judge.\n\nThe Regulations provide **two options**:\n- A **religious oath** — where the person swears by God (or their religion's deity) to do the job properly\n- A **secular affirmation** — a solemn promise that doesn't involve religion\n\nBoth versions require the person to promise they will perform their duties:\n- According to the law\n- To the best of their ability\n- **Without fear, favour, affection or ill-will** (meaning they won't be biased or influenced by personal relationships, politics, or intimidation)\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Newly appointed judicial registrars of the Victorian Supreme Court\n- The Chief Justice or other judges who administer the oath/affirmation\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is a **procedural housekeeping** update. It replaces the 2014 version of the same rules (which are now revoked). The oath/affirmation is a formal legal requirement that marks the moment someone officially becomes a judicial registrar and is bound by judicial ethics. The \"without fear, favour, affection or ill-will\" language is the traditional formula ensuring judicial independence and impartiality."},"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations replace the 2014 instrument (reg 4) but retain a narrowly focused scope: prescribing the wording and the manner of administration for judicial registrars (reg 5 and Schedule). They are made under section 129 of the Supreme Court Act 1986 (reg 2) and implement section 113GB(1) of that Act. The principal change is replacement and standardisation of form and administration rather than an expansion of regulatory scope; a sunset date is recorded in the endnotes (10 years)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow subject-matter: limited to the form and manner of an oath/affirmation for judicial registrars (Schedule) — low substantive complexity.","Short, simple structure: five regulations and a single schedule reduce interpretive load.","Cross-references to primary legislation: made under Supreme Court Act 1986 (reg 2) and implements section 113GB(1) (reg 5) — requires checking those provisions for full legal effect.","Revocation of prior instrument (reg 4): procedural replacement of earlier 2014 regulations introduces transition consideration.","Specified administering officer (reg 5(b)): minimal judicial discretion—oath must be given by Chief Justice or another Judge.","Temporal limit noted in endnotes: instrument will sunset 10 years after making under the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 — a fixed expiry date affecting longevity and review timing."],"plain_english_summary":"Prescribes the exact wording and the manner in which a judicial registrar of the Supreme Court of Victoria must swear an oath or make an affirmation of office. The Schedule sets the words to be used and the instrument requires the Chief Justice or another Judge to administer it. It revokes the 2014 regulations and takes effect from 13 October 2024, standardising the form and administration for future judicial registrars."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/supreme-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024","history":"/api/acts/supreme-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/supreme-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/supreme-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/supreme-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/supreme-court-oath-and-affirmation-of-office-regulations-2024/documents"}}