Rule 13.110.Arbitrator’s Oath
Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026
Full Text of Rule 13.110
Plain-English Summary
The rule is short and its requirement is plain. Arbitrators execute an oath in writing, on a form provided by the trial court administrator, at the time of appointment. The oath comes before the work, not after it.
What the arbitrator affirms is a promise about process and outcome: to hear and examine the matters in controversy with faith and evenhandedness, and to make a just award to the best of the arbitrator's understanding. That is the whole of it. The oath is not a code of conduct, and the chapter puts that weight elsewhere, in the rule adopting the judicial conduct standard and the rule restricting communications.
For a party, the practical value is that the oath is written and on file. Arbitrators in this program are drawn from the bar and from the ranks of retired and senior judges, and the signed oath is the formal step that marks the shift into a decision-making role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the arbitrator have to take an oath?
Yes. The rule requires arbitrators to execute an oath in writing at the time of appointment. It is a condition of serving, not an optional formality.
Where does the oath form come from?
The trial court administrator provides it. The rule specifies that the oath is executed on a form the administrator supplies.
When is the oath signed?
At the time of appointment. The arbitrator signs before taking up the case rather than at the hearing.
What does the arbitrator promise?
To hear and examine the matters in controversy faithfully and without favor, and to make a just award to the best of the arbitrator's understanding.
Is the oath the only ethical standard for arbitrators?
No. The chapter separately requires arbitrators to conduct themselves in the manner prescribed by the Code of Judicial Conduct and restricts communications between the arbitrator, the parties, and their lawyers.