An investiture ceremony was held Friday at the Perry County Court House in Marion for Don McMillan, who was sworn in as the judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Alabama.

McMillan was previously the district judge for Perry County, but will be taking over his newly elected position Tuesday, Jan. 17.

“It means a lot. Of course it’s a privilege to serve the people. It’s the people’s office,” McMillan said. “Through God’s hand I’m here and I’ll always remember that.”

McMillan said being a judge was never his plan starting out, but he is thankful that he has ended up where he is.

“I never really planned on [being a judge],” he said. “I didn’t go to law school to be a judge, I wanted to be a trial attorney. I got to do that, but then God’s plan made those things available.”

McMillan’s father, Don McMillan Sr., spoke to the audience and told them how McMillan was adopted into the family, but he “couldn’t have picked a better son.”

“I couldn’t love him no more if he had been born to me and his mom,” McMillan Sr. said. “I am very proud of him. He has made me look good and he is a good young man. I’m thankful that he is in my life.”

After McMillan was sworn in by Judge Richard Avery, retired district judge of Perry County, he spoke about how much everyone being there meant to him.

“Thank you for being here, it means a lot to me. It shows that we’re all in this together, it’s not all about me,” McMillan said. “Today I wanted you here to be part of this occasion with me to be sworn in and to let you know this is our seat. Any judge’s seat belongs to the people and it was here before me and it will be here afterwards.”

McMillan said he is looking forward to serving the people in Dallas, Bibb, Hale, Perry and Wilcox counties.

“You always want to ensure that you do the right thing, and that’s important to me, to make sure that I render the right ruling and do the right thing by all,” McMillan said. “I’m very thankful for this opportunity and now I just have to live up to it.”