OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Tom Colbert has been sworn in as the first African-American chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

The Tulsa World reports Colbert was sworn in Friday. Colbert is the first African-American to serve on the state's nine-member high court.

Former Gov. Brad Henry appointed Colbert to the state Supreme Court in 2004.

He served on the state Court of Civil Appeals prior to his service on the Supreme Court.

Colbert earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1982. He was an assistant district attorney from 1984 until 1986 in Oklahoma County. He had a private law practice from 1986 until 2000 in Oklahoma City.