An overflow audience at Ocean County's Historic Courtroom One welcomed Joseph D. Coronato as their new prosecutor Friday afternoon. 

Joined by family, Coronato took the oath before local law enforcement and other officials, including Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher, state Senator Robert Singer and state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa. 

Coronato, a Republican with a law firm in Toms River, replaces outgoing prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford. Coronato was originally appointed by Gov. Chris Christie for his new post last June but had to wait until March for a confirmation vote. 

Christie appointed Ford, a Democrat, as a Superior Court judge. She previously served a stint as a Superior Court judge before being named prosecutor in 2007 by Gov. Jon Corzine.