With about 125 family, friends and county officials on hand Eric Schrantz, a longtime Jim Thorpe police officer, began a new career Thursday as he was sworn in as district judge for magisterial district 56-3-01.

Schrantz was given the oath of office by his predecessor to the position, Edward Lewis, who retired in February after serving for over 30 years in the position.As Lewis administered the oath as Schrantz's sons Brody and Landon and his mother, Alicia Lewis, held the Bible. His wife, Kristen, helped him put on his robe for the first time as a judge.Schrantz, choking back tears, told the gathering it as a "very emotional time for me and my family. Thank you everyone."Schrantz's appointment to fill the unexpired term of Lewis was championed by state Sen. John Yudichak, D-Carbon/Luzerne. Yudichak got the state senate to approve the appointment on July 13 with Gov. Tom Wolf signing the commission.Schrantz will serve out Lewis' term, which runs to January 2018, meaning he will have to run for the office in the May 2017 primary to gain a full six-year term.Lewis, after administering the oath to his stepson, said, "You're starting a new chapter in your life."Concerning the position itself, Lewis told him, "Be firm, be fair and apply the law fairly."Also commenting on the appointment were the county's three common pleas court judges - President Judge Roger N. Nanovic and judges Steven R. Serfass and Joseph J. Matika.All three agreed that Schrantz will find the job "challenging, interesting and rewarding."Each offered their support and help to the new judge.Nanovic also told Schrantz he had "big shoes to fill" in replacing Lewis.State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, and Brad Hurley, representing Yudichak, made remarks.District Court Administrator Roberta L. Brewster was master of ceremonies for the proceeding and read the governor's commission appointing Schrantz. Tipstaffs Susan Bernhard and Linda Swartz opened and closed the proceedings.Also present were Schrantz's fellow district judges - Casimir Kosciolek, Joseph Homanko and William Kissner, as well as officers from county departments.Schrantz's work began almost immediately.Lewis noted in his remarks that there was a "full docket" of cases of Schrantz to hear Thursday and it was scheduled to begin "within the hour."Schrantz was a police officer in Jim Thorpe for 15 years, with the last 13 full time.He received a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Kutztown University in 1999 and received his magisterial judge certification in 2015.The district covers the boroughs of Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Weissport, and Penn Forest Township; and the voting districts of Packerton and Jamestown in Mahoning Township.