Phoenix (AP) -Phoenix (AP) -Democratic government Katie Hobbus, the Democratic government, appointed Maria Elena Cruz as the Supreme Court of Arizona on Wednesday, and the first black person in the country’s state appeal in Yuma County. I made it a person.
Hobbs’s CRUZ has shown the first appointment of the Supreme Court by the Democratic Governor since 2005. It also expands the racial, geographical and political diversity of the seven courts dominated by the Republican Party.
“I am not only very qualified, but also gave priority to those who are committed to working on our state and letting our legal system function for everyday people. Hobbus said at a press conference to announce her choice. “Of course, I focused on qualifications and experience, but focused on appointing justice to upload the most needed people.”
Since the establishment of the Supreme Court of Arizona in 1912, none of the 49 past or current justice has been identified as black. Only one -Supreme Court Deputy Judge John Lopez -It is Latin. Cruz, a 52 -year -old Democratic Party member, is the second person of Hispanic’s heritage, and is the first person of the African series that hosts the bench.
Former Governor Doug Ducey and Jan Brewer were responsible for choosing the other six justice in Maricopa -gun, Arizona, including Phoenix.
Cruz stated that the court, which does not reflect the state population, “does not bring trust.”
“As a new justice, I not only bring 20 years of judicial experience, such as the Cocopa tribe, senior court, service in the appeal court, deep respect and loyalty for the rule of law, but also growing, life, and nurturing families. Cruz said that he was informed by working in the countryside of Arizona.
October 31st Judge Robert Brutinel’s retirement Hobbes presented an unusual opportunity to satisfy her own vacancy with her own choice. In recent years, the judiciary has decided on some hot buttons issues. abortion and electionIt leads to political prejudice accusation.
Based on Arizona’s law, the appointment committee of the appealing court must provide the governor to select three or more names. On December 9, 16 committees interviewed eight applicants. Eventually, we sent a list of five names to Hobbus. Hobbs made a 60 -day decision.
Born in New York, a Cruz, a Puerto Rico father and Dominica’s mother, was 14 years old when she and her family moved to Yuma -gun, the southwestern corner of Arizona, where she met California and Mexico.
She was a student at Arizonawestan College and was an elementary school teacher when she was involved in a car accident that changed her trajectory. After securing the statutory agent, she noticed that she would sit opposite the lawyer and discuss her litigation. Then she had a inspiration.
“There are people who are doing something really meaningful here, and those who are doing the work he are doing affecting people’s lives.” I told the interviewer onceIt reflects her thoughts at that moment.
She asked about his path to legal profession. She said she was a lawyer when she talked about the importance of the law school and the requirements to pass the bar exam.
Late that day, she told the employer that she had resigned to get a legal degree.
The cruise acquired a psychology bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona in 1998 and a legal degree at university in 2001. She was a lawyer at the Pima County Prosecutor’s Bureau, a prosecutor of a lawyer in Yuma -gun, and a criminal lawyer. Personal practice.
She became a judge of the Coco Pindian tribe in 2005. Between 2009 and 2017, he served as a judge of the Yuma County Court.
Since 2017, CRUZ Arizona appeal court。 She was appointed by Ducy and was the first Democratic Party of the Republican governor to work in a state appeal court.
Cruz’s family stood behind her during the announcement on Wednesday morning. Her husband, Glenn Abino, said they got the news at the last moment. Her father traveled overnight from Mexico City, and her in -law drove from Las Vegas overnight to support her.
Cruz’s 24 -year -old son, Diego Abino, was not only appointed as the Supreme Court in the state, but also very proud of her mother for her “labor ethics close to the intestine” who won her place. He said he was thinking.
“It’s just a small town, going to Phoenix and going up here,” he said. “I need a real dedication.”
Cruz said that it would be swearing on Monday.
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Gabriel Sandoval is a member of the AMERICA StateHouse News Initiative Corps in the AP communication/report. American report A non -profit national service program that place journalists in a local news room and report secret problems.
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