Maria Elena Cruz has officially become the first Latina and first Black justice appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court. Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs announced the historic appointment on Wednesday, marking the first Supreme Court pick by a Democratic governor in Arizona since 2005.

Cruz’s appointment not only diversifies the seven-member, Republican-dominated court but also brings a fresh perspective to a judicial body that has long lacked representation. Since the establishment of the Arizona Supreme Court in 1912, none of the 49 past or present justices have identified as Black. Only one—Supreme Court Vice Chief Justice John Lopez—has been Latino.

“For many, this day is long overdue,” Cruz said during the announcement. “And so today, we celebrate. We celebrate that Arizonans will look at their highest court and see a group that looks more like them.”

Maria Elena Cruz’s Journey: From Rural Arizona to the Supreme Court

Born in New York to a Puerto Rican father and a Dominican mother, Cruz moved to Yuma County, Arizona, at the age of 14. Her journey into law wasn’t conventional. Initially an elementary school teacher, her career trajectory changed after she was involved in a car accident. The experience of seeking legal representation opened her eyes to the impact of the legal profession.

“Here is someone who is doing something really meaningful, someone who affects people’s lives with the work that he does,” Cruz once said about her realization. That moment led her to quit her job and pursue law.

Cruz earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Arizona in 1998 and her law degree from the University’s James E. Rogers College of Law in 2001. She went on to work as a prosecutor for the Yuma County Attorney’s Office before shifting into criminal defense. By 2005, she became a judge pro-tem for the Cocopah Indian Tribe, later serving on the Yuma County Superior Court and then the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Representation That Matters

Cruz’s appointment breaks barriers beyond race and ethnicity. Until now, Arizona’s Supreme Court has been dominated by justices from Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. Cruz, however, comes from rural Arizona, a region often overlooked in judicial representation. “A court that does not reflect the state’s population does not engender trust,” she stated.

Governor Hobbs emphasized the importance of Cruz’s appointment, saying, “Judge Maria Elena Cruz has led a life dedicated to justice and service to her state and community. Her decades of work reflect not only her legal expertise but her deep understanding of the people she serves.”

A Justice Committed to Fairness and Accessibility

Throughout her career, Cruz has championed fairness in the legal system. She has acknowledged the disparities that limit access to justice and has emphasized the need to make the legal system more approachable for all Arizonans. “Access to justice is limited, and there’s much work to be done in ensuring that poverty or lack of education do not continue to be barriers for Arizonans’ understanding and use of the legal system,” she told AZ Central.

Her judicial philosophy is rooted in upholding the law while being mindful of the challenges marginalized communities face. “I will do the work of applying the law fairly,” Cruz stated. “Regardless of public sentiment, the integrity of the judiciary must remain unshaken.”

A New Era for Arizona’s Supreme Court

Cruz’s appointment comes at a crucial time. The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled on major cases concerning abortion rights, elections, and other hot-button issues in recent years. With a Democrat now on the bench, there’s speculation about how her presence might shift dynamics in the court.

Though some critics may attempt to diminish her achievements as a “diversity hire,” Cruz’s credentials speak for themselves. She has decades of experience across multiple levels of the judiciary and was even appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals by former Republican Governor Doug Ducey.

With her appointment, Maria Elena Cruz is not just making history—she’s reshaping the future of Arizona’s highest court.

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