AFJ Applauds Arizona Supreme Court Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 29, 2025 – Today Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs announced her first nomination to the Arizona Supreme Court: Judge Maria Elena Cruz. Cruz will become the first justice in Arizona nominated by a Democratic governor in two decades and will be the only Democratic appointee on the bench. As an Afro-Latina woman, she will also become the first woman of color to ever serve on Arizona’s highest court.

Cruz currently serves as a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals and has a diverse legal background that includes prior service as a Yuma County Superior Court Judge and practice in criminal defense and family law matters. In addition, she served as a judge pro-tem for the Cocopah Indian Tribe. Cruz is a graduate of the University of Arizona and the University of Arizona James E. Roger College of Law.

Alliance for Justice Interim Co-President Keith Thirion issued the following statement:

“Today is a hopeful day for the Arizona Supreme Court. We congratulate Judge Maria Elena Cruz and applaud Governor Hobbs for her selection. This court has been dominated by a conservative majority for far too long that has inflicted lasting damage on Arizonans’ rights and lives — notably upholding the state’s archaic abortion ban last year. The people deserve a justice like Cruz with experience representing the needs of everyday Arizonans. Cruz also breaks an important glass ceiling as the first woman of color to ever serve on this court, an achievement only amplified by her exceptional career and tremendous record. AFJ was proud to support her nomination. At a time when Trump is undermining our democracy and the U.S. Supreme Court is deferring to the states, all state courts deserve this kind of careful attention.”