RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Five new judges have been officially installed to sit on the bench at the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Thursday's online investiture ceremony included live swearings-in within the Raleigh courtroom of the state’s intermediate-level appeals court. The event was closed to the public except for family members of the new appeals judges.

These new judges on the 15-member court had already taken their official oaths earlier this month. Four of them won eight-year terms in the November election. They are Judges Jeffery Carpenter, April Wood, Fred Gore and Jefferson Griffin.

New Judge Darren Jackson joined the court after Gov. Roy Cooper appointed him to replace Phil Berger Jr., who is now on the state Supreme Court. The term of Jackson, a former state House Democratic leader, expires at the end of 2022. The other four new judges are registered Republicans.

The five judges were sworn in by Chief Judge Donna Stroud, who was elevated to the post Jan. 1 with the retirement of predecessor Linda McGee.

Court of Appeals judges usually meet in groups of three to hear cases.