"Answering the Call": Arizona Law's Maria Elena Cruz Makes History on Arizona Supreme Court
In a historic appointment announced in February, Governor Katie Hobbs named Maria Elena Cruz ('01) to the Arizona Supreme Court, making her the first Latina and Black justice to serve on the state's highest court—the latest chapter in a career defined by answering the call to serve where she was needed most.
Justice Cruz's path to the bench was anything but traditional. As a young woman, she had planned to become a teacher, but a life-altering car accident changed the course of her future.
The aftermath of that incident introduced her to the legal system, but not in the way she had expected. Struggling to find an attorney who would take her case, she felt firsthand the frustration of being unheard. The experience opened her eyes to the need for more advocates in her community and other rural areas of Arizona where access to legal resources is limited.
Recognizing this gap in service, she enrolled at the University of Arizona Law, where she initially planned to pursue a career in personal injury but found herself drawn to criminal law after participating in a prosecution clinic.
"I felt that vindicating the rights of the people was an incredibly fulfilling way to serve," noted Cruz.
After graduation, her commitment to service led her to become a prosecutor, but colleagues encouraged her to gain experience on both sides of the courtroom. Heeding this advice, she stepped into a role as a criminal defense attorney, where she saw how poor legal representation could have life-altering consequences. One of her first cases involved a man who was factually innocent but had been misidentified. The experience reinforced her belief that everyone deserves strong advocacy, no matter their circumstances.
When a local tribal court needed a judge pro tem, Cruz answered that call—her first judicial role. "I didn't initially set out to become a judge," she recalls, "but when there was a need, I stepped up." This pattern continued when she saw a vacancy on the trial court bench after respected members of the legal community encouraged her to run.
"That's been the story of my career—answering the call to serve when there was a need," she reflects.
Her service on the appellate bench was marked by a commitment to accessible justice. "The law should serve everyone, not just those with the resources to navigate it easily," she noted. This dedication to serving underrepresented communities made Cruz a natural choice when Governor Hobbs sought to diversify Arizona's highest court.
When asked about the significance of her historic appointment to the Arizona Supreme Court, Justice Cruz emphasized the impact of representation.
"It does not engender trust to have a group of people who are predominantly or exclusively of one demographic. The citizenry of our state should see themselves represented in the institutions that serve them."
She also recognizes that this milestone is just the beginning of a new chapter of service. "This is not the end. I now have a platform and a voice that is amplified. So there's a responsibility—what am I going to do with that? What will my impact and legacy be?"
As she steps into her new role, Justice Cruz remains committed to serving all Arizonans, with special attention to rural and underrepresented communities—the very places where her journey began.
"I want to advance the law in a way that serves all communities, particularly those in rural areas," she explains. "The Court will be handling cases in the coming years that will have deep impacts on those communities, and I want to make sure their interests are represented fairly."
Cruz's appointment further strengthens Arizona Law's presence on the state's highest court. She joins fellow alumni Justice James Patrick Beene ('91) and Justice Kathryn Hackett King ('06), making her the third University of Arizona Law graduate currently serving on the Arizona Supreme Court.
True to form, Cruz sees her historic appointment not as a personal achievement but as another opportunity to serve: "I didn't plan to be here, but I answered the call when I was needed. If my path shows others—especially women and people from underrepresented backgrounds—that they belong in the legal profession, then I will have done something worthwhile."