Indiana's newest Supreme Court justice says the court and its justices are "fallible" and that public institutions should acknowledge that they won't always get things right.

But Justice Mark Massa pledged during a public ceremony Monday marking his appointment to be faithful to the rules of law and principles of equal justice.

The 50-year-old Massa was appointed to the court by Gov. Mitch Daniels following the retirement of Chief Justice Randall Shepard. He is the state's 107th justice.

Massa is a former chief counsel to Gov. Mitch Daniels and thanked Daniels, his family and other mentors for what he says is the "greatest experience" of his legal career.

The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission is expected to announce a new chief justice from the court's five members on May 15.