A Muskogee man was elected chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Thursday.

James Edmondson, who was the vice chief justice, will serve as chief justice for the years 2009 and 2010.

Justice Steven Taylor also was elected to serve as vice chief justice.

Both terms begin Jan. 1, 2009. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 15.

Edmondson was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Dec. 2, 2003, by Governor Brad Henry. Before that time, he served as an assistant district attorney in the Muskogee County District Attorney’s Office from 1976 to 1978 and as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Oklahoma from 1978 to 1980. He is the brother of state Attorney General Drew Edmondson.

James Edmondson is a 1963 graduate of Central High School. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Northeastern State University and in 1973 earned his law degree from Georgetown University.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Edmondson is married to Suzanne Rumler Edmondson. They have two children.

Governor Henry appointed Justice Steven Taylor to the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Sept. 23, 2004. Taylor served as a district judge from 1994 to 2004 and as an associate district judge from 1984 to 1994. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law and Oklahoma State University.

He had been a district judge in McAlester for nine years and also served as an associate district judge from 1984 to 1995.

Taylor was the judge who presided over the murder trial of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols.