Bringing to an end nearly a decade of Republican headship on the court, Democrat Marilyn Kelly, 70, has been elected Michigan state Chief Justice, in a sharply divided state Supreme Court vote. On Thursday, the court also swore in its newest member: Justice Diane Marie Hathaway, the former Wayne County Circuit Court Judge.

Those on the court who supported Kelly included fellow Democrats - Justices Michael Cavanagh and the newly-elected Diane Hathaway - and Republican Justice Elizabeth Weaver - who has often sided with the Democrats. The other two Republicans on the court - Justices Maura Corrigan and Stephen Markman - voted for Republican Justice Robert Young Jr.

Though, officially speaking, Republicans have a 4-3 majority on the court, Weaver at variance with the court's other Republicans has become the swing vote on the seven-member panel.

Reacting to her election, Kelly said: "I view this as an honor and a great responsibility. I will be working every day to deserve the title of chief justice - with my fellow justices, with the Michigan judicial branch, and with the people of Michigan."

Kelly, a 12-year veteran of the court, also expressed the hope that the new court would advance "greater fairness and impartiality" in its decision making.

Raised in Detroit, Kelly had her first stint with public office in 1964, when she was elected a member of the state Board of Education. She received her degrees from Eastern Michigan and Middlebury College, Vermont, before graduating in law at Wayne State.