When swearing to a complaint, the oath must be taken in front of whom?

• A. The judge
• B. The clerk of the court
• C. The person administering the oath
• D. A police officer

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that a sworn complaint must be sworn before someone who is authorized to administer oaths. The role of that person is to administer the oath and witness that it was given truthfully, providing the legal authority and verification for the oath.

That’s why the best answer is the person administering the oath. This describes the official who has the authority to administer oaths, rather than naming a specific office like a judge or clerk, or a police officer who may not always have that authority. In practice, many officials can administer oaths (such as a judge, clerk, magistrate, or notary), but the essential requirement is that the oath is taken in front of the person who administers it.