Swearing-in of judges

A rare ceremony will take place Friday at the St. Joseph County Courthouse, where a dual swearing-in ceremony will take place for the incoming judges of probate and district courts.

The 2 p.m. ceremony will feature traditional pomp and circumstance typically accompanying the swearing-in of new judges. On Jan. 1, David Tomlinson will begin his six-year tenure as probate judge and Rob Pattison will start his term expiring at the end of 2018 as circuit court judge.

The event marks the first time in recent memory that the county has had two judges sworn in simultaneously.

Tomlinson takes over for the retiring Tom Shumaker and Pattison steps in for William Welty, who is also retiring after a 22-year tenure on the bench.