Four elected Warren County officials were sworn in about a week early Monday in a brief ceremony at the County Court courtroom in the Warren County Courthouse.

Although they don’t officially take office until Jan. 1, Circuit Clerk Jan Hyland Daigre, District Attorney Ricky Smith, County Prosecutor Ricky Johnson and South District Constable John Higgins were sworn in by Senior Circuit Court Judge IsAdore Patrick as their friends and family watched.

Also sworn in were assistant district attorneys Marcie Southerland, Angela Carpenter and Bert Carraway

The remaining 20 elected county officials will be sworn in by Chancellor Vicki Barnes in Chancery Court on the third floor of the courthouse at a Dec. 28 ceremony. The reason for the early ceremonies is because Jan. 1, which is on a Friday, is New Years Day and a state, federal and county holiday, and the next day is Saturday.

Daigre said she decided to have her swearing in earlier than the other officers “because I wanted to be sworn in by my senior circuit judge, Judge Patrick, and so did Ricky Smith and Ricky Johnson. The judge will not be here next week.”

Daigre was first elected circuit clerk in a special election in 2014 to fill the unexpired term of Sherry Ashley-Palmertree. She was elected to a full term in November. Smith, Johnson and Higgins were re-elected to their offices in November.