BELTON - Tuesday morning, John Mischtian stood before a crowded courtroom and swore to uphold the duties of his position as judge of County Court at Law No. 2.

He began carrying out those duties Tuesday afternoon.

Mischtian and 14 other elected officials were sworn into their positions by Third Court of Appeals Chief Justice Ken Law, a Belton native, before a friends, family and co-worker-filled Commissioners Courtroom in the Bell County Courthouse.