OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Longtime state trial judge Steven Taylor has been sworn in as the chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Justice Yvonne Kauger on Monday administered the oath of office to Taylor, who has spent the past two years as the court's vice chief justice. Taylor will serve a two-year term as chief justice.

Taylor spent more than 20 years as a trial judge in various state courts before Gov. Brad Henry appointed him to the Supreme Court in 2004. Taylor tells The Oklahoman that being chief justice "is not a job, it is a mission."

Immediately after his swearing in, Taylor administered the oath of office to the court's new vice chief justice, Tom Colbert.