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James P. Hoffa was sworn in March 22 as general president of the Teamsters union.

He took the oath of office at the union’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., after a federal judge on Friday upheld his election over protests by challenger Tom Leedham and the dissident Teamsters for a Democratic Union.

U.S. District Judge David N. Edelstein affirmed a federal overseer’s decision in January that certification of the election results should not be delayed because of charges pending against some members of the Hoffa slate.

"I . . . look forward to the opportunity, at long last, to lead the Teamsters union back to greatness," Hoffa said in a statement. "A reunited, financially sound, corruption-free Teamsters will now take its place in the family of labor."

After being sworn in, Hoffa administered the oath of office to General Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegel and convened the first General Executive Board meeting.

In its first official act, the board authorized the hiring of a team of auditors to review the union’s financial records. Hoffa has pledged to balance the union’s budget during his first year in office.

The board also voted to create an ethical practices panel to investigate corruption and agreed to increase the union’s financial support for a group trying to resolve the Detroit newspaper strike.

A spokesman for Hoffa said a series of inauguration ceremonies are planned in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles.