Governor Katie Hobbs has appointed Maria Elena Cruz to the Arizona Supreme Court, making history as the first Latina and Black justice to serve on the state’s highest court. Cruz, an appellate judge from rural Yuma County, was selected on Wednesday.
Hobbs’ decision marks the first time a Democratic governor has appointed a justice to the Arizona Supreme Court since 2005. Her selection also enhances the court’s racial, geographic, and political diversity, which remains predominantly Republican.
“I prioritized an appointee who is not only eminently qualified but also someone who reflects our state and who is committed to making our legal system work for everyday people,” Hobbs stated at a news conference. “Of course, I was focused on credentials and experience but also on appointing a justice who will uplift those who need it most.”
Since its establishment in 1912, the Arizona Supreme Court has never had a Black justice among its 49 past and present members. Before Cruz, only one Latino—Supreme Court Vice Chief Justice John Lopez—had served on the bench. At 52, Cruz will become the second Hispanic justice and the first of African descent.
