U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick takes the helm in Houston To begin job right away

Former state district judge Ryan Patrick, left, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, is administered his oath of office by Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, center, at the federal courthouse Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 in Houston. less Former state district judge Ryan Patrick, left, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, is administered his oath of office by Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, center, at ... more Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick takes the helm in Houston 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The newly appointed U.S. attorney took his oath of office Monday in Houston, assuming the role of chief federal law enforcement officer for a swath of Texas that stretches from the Louisiana border to Laredo.

Ryan Patrick, 38, a private attorney, former state district court judge and son of Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was long considered the front-runner for the post. He is new to the federal court system, having submitted his credentials to the federal bar one week before Donald Trump's inauguration last January.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, presided over the ceremony in her stately wood-paneled courtroom where formal portraits of current and former judges line the walls. She thanked Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez for his service "despite the uncertainties of the comings and goings" of his predecessor and successor and he stood by during the oath. Five judges, the clerk for the district, probation officials, a few federal public defenders, a couple dozen assistant U.S. Attorneys and support staff also watched from the gallery.

None of Patrick's family members were in attendance. A formal investiture ceremony for the entire district will likely be held in late February or early March, Patrick later said.

Referencing an injury that forced her to use a walker, Rosenthal warmed up the crowd noting that the new U.S. attorney is ready and able.

"Mr. Patrick brings energy, enviable youth ... a strong set of legs and a willing heart to the task that lies ahead," she said. "It's not an easy task and it's not an easy district."

"It's never true that a U.S. attorney has an easy path. There are difficult situations, hard issues and challenges," the presiding judge said. "We are by geography, by time, by accidents of history, by politics with the big p and the little p, we're on the front lines. That puts you in really interesting position."

Acknowledging the room was packed with seasoned federal court players, she said, "We are ready to assist you and make life harder for you when we should," which elicited chuckles.

Patrick, in a formal suit with a red and white tie, did not make a statement beyond telling Rosenthal he was ready to begin the oath.

Afterward he told the Houston Chronicle, "I'm excited to be back to work for the people of Texas."

"Except for last year I've spent my whole professional legal career in public service," he said. "And I was eager to get back to it."

Patrick said the structure to perform the work before him is mostly in place. "Nothing needs to be blown up and reinvented," he said. "This is a great district with great people... with very interesting challenges and with the resources and people we have, we're going to meet every one of those challenges."

The position previously held by career prosecutor Ken Magidson handles civil cases and criminal matters amid one of the busiest dockets in the nation, which includes an international border, a major city, a major port and Magidson noted recently, the federal government touches everything in those sectors.

The state's two Republican U.S. senators said upon his formal appointment last month that Patrick is well prepared for the task.

Patrick was narrowly defeated in his bid for reelection, one of several Republican Harris County state district judges swept out of office by Democrats in November 2016.

Patrick spent the past year running his own law firm and doing criminal defense work as senior counsel for the firm HooverSlovacek. He was a state district court judge between 2012 and 2016, and before that served as an assistant district attorney for Harris County. He earned degrees from Baylor University and South Texas College of Law Houston.

In a recently updated Twitter profile, he describes himself as a "Christian, Husband, Father, Baylor Bear. US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. Former state judge." He lives with his wife and three children in Houston.

The Southern District of Texas includes Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville and Laredo. The district sees a huge influx of immigration, drug and human trafficking cases each year and oversees expansive Medicare fraud and white-collar investigations.

Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com