Commissioner JaNice Van Ness, Superior Court Judge David Irwin, and District Attorney Richard Read were sworn in by Probate Court Judge Lillis Brown before the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday evening.

Brown described some of the traditions surrounding the swearing in ceremonies, such as the Bible from 1962 that she's used in every ceremony, and the significance of elected officials coming together during such events.

The officials thanked the public and spoke of the honor and responsibilty of their roles.

"What a pleasure it is to serve the residents of Rockdale County," said Van Ness. She said she enjoyed her job over the last four years and looked forward to the next four.

Pulling out a stack of notes, Read said, "As I've gotten older, some of the names slide out of my memory. But the faces don't slide out."

Of the offenders that come from outside the county, Read said, "They need to understand justice is coming soon. It's not a metro Atlanta justice. It's Rockdale County justice that's coming."