Butler County Common Pleas Court President Judge S. Michael Yeager is beginning his second, and possibly last, 10-year term in office.

Yeager was one of the judges who were sworn in to office during Monday’s inauguration ceremonies for newly elected and reelected county officials.

Senior Judge Thomas M. Piccione of Lawrence County administered the oath of office.

Yeager said he and Piccione have been friends since 2002 when they met at a class held for judges in State College. He said Piccione became a senior judge in 2017.

Elected in 2001, Yeager began his first term on the bench in 2002. He won a retention vote to serve a second term in last year’s election.

After taking the oath of office, Yeager said it was the “beginning of the end of my political career,” and that it was the last time he would seek reelection.