General Orders, No. 20 (1899)

OFFICE OF THE U.S. MILITARY GOVERNOR IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. Manila, P.I., May 29, 1899.

I.
Chapter 3, Title 2, of the Organic Royal Decree of January 5, 1891, prescribing the qualifications of appointees to colonial judicial office, is, in its application to the judicial appointments in the Philippine Islands, hereby suspended.

II.
The Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands (Audiencia Territorial), heretofore administered in the city of Manila, the exercise of whose jurisdiction has been suspended as to criminal affairs since August 13, 1898, and as to civil affairs since January 30, 1899, is hereby re-established and will exercise jurisdiction, civil and criminal, which it possessed prior to August 13, 1898, in so far as compatible with the supremacy of the United States in said islands, and will administer the laws recognized as continuing in force by proclamation from these headquarters dated August 14, 1898, except in so far as they have been or may hereafter be modified by authority of the United States.

III.
The following appointments are announced:

The appointment of subordinate officials of this court will be announced later.

IV.
The Supreme Court as above constituted will meet upon the call of its president at the earliest practicable date for the purpose of organization and for the formation of such recommendations relating to its procedure under United States authority as may be deemed by it advisable.

The officers herein named and all others who may be appointed hereafter to act in any capacity in connection with the administration of courts of justice in these islands will, before entering upon the discharge of their official duties, subscribe and take the following

OATH OF OFFICE.


 * I ........................................., having been appointed .............................................................., in the Philippine Islands, recognize and accept the supreme authority of the United States of America. And I do solemnly swear that I will maintain good faith and fidelity to the government; that I will obey the existing laws which rule in the Philippine Islands, as well as the legal orders and decrees of the duly constituted government therein; that I impose upon myself this voluntary obligation without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, so help me, God.

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The prescribed oath may be administered by the Judge of the Provost Court of Manila, or by such other officers as may be designated for that purpose by proper authority.