Which offices are authorized to administer an oath to someone swearing to a complaint?

• A. Only judges may administer an oath.
• B. Any employee of the court may administer an oath.
• C. No one may administer an oath without a judge's directive.
• D. Court clerks, deputy court clerks, and city secretaries may administer an oath to someone swearing to a complaint.

Answer: (D)

Oaths for sworn statements come from official authority granted to certain court and local government personnel. Court clerks, deputy court clerks, and city secretaries are empowered to administer an oath to someone swearing to a complaint because their roles include handling sworn statements, filings, and authentication in the course of court and government proceedings. They can administer the oath as part of their duties without needing a judge’s direct directive each time.

This reflects why the other options don’t fit: restricting oath administration to judges only is too narrow, broadening to any court employee is inaccurate because not every employee has that authority, and implying no one can administer without a judge’s directive ignores that clerks and city secretaries routinely perform this duty within their official functions.