By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

The first person of color was sworn in to the Rhode Island Supreme Court Monday, giving the state’s highest court a majority of women for the first time.

Melissa A. Long, who is Black, was sworn in by Chief Justice Paul Suttell in a socially distanced ceremony attended by a few family members and friends on the South steps of the State House.

“Every day, when I arrive at the courthouse I will recommit to taking the time to understand the stories of those who come before our courts, and to appreciating that those stories matter,” Long said.

Long is the second woman appointed to the court by Governor Gina Raimondo, along with Erin Lynch Prata, a former State Senator who was sworn in during a private ceremony January 4, according to a court spokesman. They join long-serving Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg, Suttell and Justice William Robinson.

Raimondo filled the two vacancies following last year’s retirements of Justices Gilbert Indeglia and Francis Flaherty.

Following the ceremony, former State Senator Harold Metts praised Gov. Raimondo for appointing Long, and said governors in the past were not interested in appointing a person of color to the Supreme Court.

“We can’t change the past, but today we made amends for the things that took place in the past so that we can truly have justice and equality that’s the foundation of this nation,” Metts said.

“For us, having the first Black on the Supreme Court, it’s the ultimate,” said James Vincent, President of the NAACP Providence chapter.

“It’s a celebration of a lot of people’s efforts to make sure that all courts are diverse, including the Supreme Court. So this is a big day, this is a historic day, and we’re very proud of Melissa Long. She’s going to do an outstanding job,” Vincent said.