The Arizona Supreme Court now has seven justices after Maria Elena Cruz was sworn in on Feb. 3. She's a historical appointee, and we're learning more about her in a one-on-one interview.

When Maria Elena Cruz was sworn in as Arizona's newest Supreme Court Justice on Monday, she made history on multiple counts. Cruz is the first Justice appointed by Gov. Katie Hobbs, and she'll be the only Justice on the seven-person court that was appointed by a Democrat.

Maria Elena Cruz becomes the first Latina and Black justice on Arizona's Supreme Court, reflecting the state's growing diversity. Appointed by a Democratic governor, she brings a bipartisan judicial background to the court.

Newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Maria Elena Cruz has played a key role in some major decisions while she was a judge on the Court of Appeals. In May, she wrote for a

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has appointed Maria Elena Cruz to the Arizona Supreme Court. The state appellate judge from rural Yuma County will become the first Latina and the first Black person chosen for the state’s high court.

Maria Elena Cruz, a state appeals court judge, is the first Latina and first Black Arizonan to serve on the state’s most influential bench.