Sally Pokorny, second from right, is fitted with her robe by her son Brian, at left and Shawnee County District Judge Jean Schmidt, right. Pokorny was sworn in as the newest Douglas County District Court judge Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. Also joining Pokorny for her robing ceremony from left are Deke Davis, 11, Ellie Davis, 13, Pokorny's son Mike, and Libby Davis, 7. The Davis's are nephews and nieces of Pokorny.

Sally Pokorny was sworn in as the newest Douglas County judge Thursday afternoon.

During a special session in the district two courtroom she can now call her own, an overflow crowd consisting of two Kansas Supreme Court justices, a Kansas Court of Appeals judge, multiple district judges from across the state, legal professionals, family and friends, welcomed her to the bench.

Pokorny replaces Jack Murphy, who retired on Monday after 15 years of service.

Her addition to the court creates a female majority of judges in Douglas County — the state’s seventh judicial district — with four women and two men on the bench. The 17th district, consisting of six counties in northwestern Kansas, is the only other district in the state with a female majority, court officials said.

Pokorny, who leaves a job as a private Lawrence attorney, was appointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in December. She brings with her three decades of legal experience.

The new judge will preside over criminal and civil court cases, though she isn’t expected to begin hearing cases until after attending a three-day judges school next week in Topeka.