Investiture: Investment in the Present and the Future

in·ves·ti·ture (ĭn-vĕs't-chr', -chr) n.

1. The act or formal ceremony of conferring the authority and symbols of a high office.

I like this term when judges and justices assume the solemn responsibilities of their office rather than the sterile civil term of 'swearing in' or 'oath or affirmation'.  The former describes the event; the latter simply the words said at the event.

I thank Judge Lisabeth Abramson for her elegance and grace in formally inviting the bar and the public to her investiture on August 1, 2006 at 4:00 pm on the Tenth Floor of the Jefferson Judicial Center in Louisville, Kentucky by using a formal card invitation and the use of this time-honored term which recognizes the true nature of this event:

• The judge is now being INVESTED with the judicial and commonweal authority of the state and the people to exercise authority over justice and the lives and liberties of those coming before that court.
• The judge will also be taking an OATH to exercise judicial authority in accordance with the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth

Here is the oath.

Section 228 - Oath of officers and attorneys

Members of the General Assembly and all officers, before they enter upon the execution of the duties of their respective offices, and all members of the bar, before they enter upon the practice of their profession, shall take the following oath or affirmation:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue a citizen thereof, and that I will faithfully execute, to the best of my ability, the office of _________ according to law; and I do further solemnly swear (or affirm) that since the adoption of the present Constitution, I, being a citizen of this State, have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this State nor out of it, nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons, nor have I acted as second in carrying a challenge, nor aided or assisted any person thus offending, so help me God."

Text as Ratified on: August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.

I use the term 'commonweal' as well as the more modern form of 'commonwealth' for a reason.  Too often, commonwealth refers to the governmental entity of the state as embodied in the constitutional and geographical framework of its existence.

Commonweal is a much more powerful concept with roots in natural justice meaning 'common good' or 'good of the community.'  Commonwealth was an outgrowth of that term which has lost its more basic meaning with the passage of time. 

Attendance at this investiture is important for several reasons.

• Our courts and our judges need/must be reminded that their authority comes from us and not from their robes and that they serve the people and not themselves.  If lawyers allow the investment of this authority to occur quietly and without witness, then what about those other acts and deeds to be performed in the quiet recesses of that office?
• Show support to the judge and to the public that lawyers care enough for the administration of justice to be present during this peaceful and powerful transfer of authority.  This has been a tumultuous year for our courts.  A strong showing should be seen, and a strong story should be told by the AOC on this investment in our future.   
• This investiture is purely apolitical since there is no campaign to be affected and no hidden agenda to be pursued.
• I hope I can attend, and I would appreciate any digital photos of the investiture and/or the crowd to post.

Comments

[coco chanel]

Thanks for the reminder about our judiciary and the responsbility they have to the citizens in this state. Well said.