Gov. Hobbs appoints Judge Maria Elena Cruz to Arizona Supreme Court

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs held a news conference on Jan. 29 to announce the historic appointment of a new judge to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Hobbs nominated Judge Maria Elena Cruz to the state's highest court.

What we know:

Cruz is a graduate of the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law and has worked as a prosecutor in the Yuma County Attorney's Office. She was appointed to the court of appeals in 2017 by then-Governor Doug Ducey.

Cruz replaces Justice Robert Brutinel on the Arizona Supreme Court, who announced his retirement last October.

Dig deeper:

According to Arizona law, the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments is required to provide the governor with no fewer than three names to pick from. On Dec. 9, the 16-member commission interviewed eight applicants. The commission ultimately sent a list of five names to Hobbs, who had 60 days to make her decision.

What they're saying:

Cruz will be the first Latina and Black person to serve on the Arizona Supreme Court.

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

Judge Maria Elena Cruz was appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court by Governor Katie Hobbs.

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