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Loretta Lynch sworn in as new US attorney general

Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by Loretta Lynch's father Lorenzo Lynch, second from left, and Loretta Lynch's husband Stephen Hargrove, second from right, administers the oath of office to Loretta Lynch as the 83rd Attorney General of the U.S., Monday, April 27, 2015, during a ceremony at the Justice Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by Loretta Lynch's father Lorenzo Lynch, second from left, and Loretta Lynch's husband Stephen Hargrove, second from right, administers the oath of office to Loretta Lynch as the 83rd Attorney General of the U.S., Monday, April 27, 2015, during a ceremony at the Justice Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

By Associated Press April 27, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Loretta Lynch has been sworn in as the nation’s 83rd attorney general.

She was sworn in Monday at a Justice Department ceremony, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding. Lynch replaces Eric Holder, who left the job Friday after six years as attorney general.

The 55-year-old Lynch was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday following a months-long delay after her nomination got caught up in a dispute over human trafficking legislation.

She was previously the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, which encompasses much of New York City, and is expected to serve as the top federal law enforcement official for the remainder of the Obama administration. She’s the first African-American woman to hold the jobs.