ANDERSON­ — Hundreds witnessed history Friday as Rudolph R. Pyle III took the oath as Madison County’s first African-American judge.

After he was sworn in as Madison Circuit Court judge by Gov. Mitch Daniels, Pyle, 39, thanked God and his parents while fighting back tears.

“You say you’re not going to do that,” he said, wiping his eyes as he joined the county’s other robed judges. An overflow crowd packed into commissioners’ court, spilling into the lobby outside.

“I am keenly aware that this is not my seat. I don’t own it, you do,” Pyle said. “I’m willing to serve as long as you’ll have me.”

Daniels, who selected fellow Republican Pyle to replace former Judge Fredrick R. Spencer, noted the historic nature of his choice but also said his choice was clear.

“The man we are about to swear in to this office has multiple qualifications,” Daniels said, noting Pyle’s experience as a deputy prosecutor, state trooper and law clerk at the Indiana Court of Appeals.

“Yes, this is historic; yes, something unprecedented is happening,” Daniels said. “That has nothing to do with this choice. ... We have the best person.

“Indiana expects him to not merely be a competent judge, but to be a great judge,” he said.

Daniels said the selection of a new judge is among the toughest decisions a governor must make. “There’s no place for cronyism,” he said.

But Daniels did acknowledge at least one shared interest. A known motorcycle ethusiast, the governor paused while listing Pyle’s heady achievements.

“Motorcycle instructor,” he said to gales of laughter.

Pyle pledged to focus on 3 Rs from the bench — respect, reliability and results. He led those gathered to chant the mantra and said they were qualities that the county was accustomed to from its judges.

“They have been providing that level of service,” he said.

Pyle acknowledged difficulties facing county residents, including foreclosures and unemployment, but he said there were positive things happening locally, including in the courts.

“With all the stresses that go on,” he said, “there’s still a sense of excitement when you look at what’s happening in the judiciary. ... In the past two weeks, you could sense it walking around the courthouse.”

He noted a recent federal stimulus grant of nearly $1 million that will help the courts consolidate and expand problem-solving courts. Drug court, mental-health court and re-entry court are meant to provide alternatives to nonviolent offenders who may benefit more from treatment and social-service intervention than from incarceration.

Pyle also noted that his appointment and Daniels’ previous selection of David Happe to fill a vacancy in Superior Court 4 placed on the bench two judges under age 40.

After he was sworn in, Pyle was greeted by lines of well-wishers who streamed into Circuit Court.

“We’re very, very, very proud of him, but I’m not surprised,” said Jean Morehead, a family friend who was the director of multicultural affairs at Anderson University when Pyle was an undergraduate student there.

Morehead noted that Pyle had been the first African-American student government president. “I’m not surprised by his success today.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Anderson, called Pyle “A man of integrity, a man of character and a man of accomplishment.

“It’s also a historic milestone,” he said. “It’s a cause for celebration in Madison County and all over Indiana.”

A history-making judge

Rudolph “Rudy” R. Pyle III is the first African-American judge in Madison County. Here’s a look at the new judge of Madison Circuit Court:

Age: 39.

Family: Son, Seth, 1.

Political affiliation: Republican.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Anderson University. Law degree from Indiana University. Master’s degree from the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Va.

Professional: Deputy Madison County prosecutor since 2004; in private practice in 2006. Indiana State Trooper for nearly four years. Served as law clerk for Indiana Court of Appeals. Adjunct professor at AU.

Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com