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Supreme Court Justice Julie J. Vargas was sworn into office on Jan. 25.

Chief Justice Michael Vigil administered the oath of office to the justice during a ceremony in the Supreme Court courtroom. Family members of the justice were present. Other Supreme Court justices, friends and judicial colleagues attended remotely through an audio-video connection.

The governor appointed Justice Vargas to a vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Judith Nakamura.

In remarks after taking the oath, Justice Vargas thanked her family and other judges. She said that “being a judge is not about me. It’s not about being called judge or justice. It’s about the people that we work for and it’s about the people that help us do our jobs.”

Before joining the state’s highest court, Justice Vargas served on the state Court of Appeals. She was elected to the appellate judgeship in 2016, and previously spent 23 years in the private practice of law. Justice Vargas received her law degree in 1993 from the University of New Mexico.

Justice Julie J. Vargas is sworn into office by Chief Justice Michael E. Vigil. Standing next to Justice Vargas is her mother, Elisa Vargas. (Photo courtesy of the Administrative Office of the Courts.)