| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW |
MARCH 26, 2025 | | | |
Greetings,
This week we recognize Maria Elena Cruz (’01), recently named the first Latina and Black justice on the Arizona Supreme Court. Justice Cruz’s story is one of responding to needs where she saw them and ultimately making the legal system better and more representative.
Congratulations, Justice Cruz!
| | “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. At that time, a frustrating experience with the legal system 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.
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.
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.”
For the full story, see here.
| | Legal Paraprofessionals in Action: Arizona Law Hosts Third Annual LP Summit | | |
Arizona Law recently hosted the third annual Legal Paraprofessional Summit, bringing together licensed and aspiring Legal Paraprofessionals (LP), attorneys, judges and other legal professionals for discussions on LPs in action with an emphasis on courtroom advocacy skills.
The conference welcomed a record 150 attendees both in person and online, and featured engaging discussions on AI and ethics challenges, courtroom decorum and building a client’s case through the art of storytelling. Attendees heard from industry experts, connected with peers and gained insights into the future of the LP profession.
This year’s event welcomed notable speakers, including a keynote from Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer, a presentation by newly appointed Justice Maria Elena Cruz (’01) and closing remarks from Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Brian Furuya.
“This year’s Summit was the most successful yet, with more attendees, more programming and more opportunities for engagement,” said Professor Keith Swisher, who directs the BA in Law and Master of Legal Studies (MLS) programs. “The growth of this event underscores the increasing impact of legal paraprofessionals in Arizona’s justice system.”
For the full story, see here.
| | Neumann Lecture: Insights from Litigating High-Profile Cases | | |
Attorney Josh Koskoff will deliver this year’s Peter Chase Neumann Lecture on Civil Justice on Thursday, March 27. Koskoff has represented clients including families of Sandy Hook victims in high-profile litigation.
In his talk, Koskoff will share insights from his extensive legal experience, discussing the power of optimism, risk-taking, humility and belief in your client, case and story as it relates to a series of cases he has worked on throughout his career.
When: Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. (MST)
Where: The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Room 168, 1201 E. Speedway
Who may attend: This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and available to those who have registered prior to the event.
See the full story to learn more.
| | Bacon Speaker Series to Address “The Future of Asylum in Africa and Beyond” | | |
There are over 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, 43.4 million of whom the United Nations considers to be “refugees.” Climate change is also a major contributor to the problem. At the same time, anti-immigrant sentiment and immigration restrictionism are on the rise. Can existing legal frameworks withstand these growing pressures and political shifts?
On April 7, Associate Professor Leah Ndimurwimo of Nelson Mandela University, a visiting Fulbright Research Scholar at Arizona Law, will address this question as part of the Bacon Immigration Law & Policy Program Speaker Series. The discussion will focus on developments in South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi. Professor Lynn Marcus will moderate and provide information on similar issues and trends in the United States.
When: Monday, April 7, 2025, 12:00-1:15 p.m. (MST)
Where: The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Room 164, 1201 E. Speedway, or via Zoom
Who may attend: This event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. Please register to attend in-person by noon on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
| | Prof. Shefali Milczarek-Desai Shares Insights at NY Social Justice Speaker Series | | |
Professor Shefali Milczarek-Desai recently spoke at the Fordham University Law School Feerick Center for Social Justice’s Social Justice Leaders speaker series. During the event, she presented her groundbreaking research paper titled (Hidden) in Plain Sight: Migrant Child Labor and The New Economy of Exploitation.
Prof. Milczarek-Desai delved into the often overlooked issue of migrant child labor, exploring how it continues to persist and evolve within the context of today’s global economy. This discussion not only shed light on the hidden realities of child labor but also provided valuable insights for policymakers, advocates and anyone committed to human rights and social justice.
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Do You Have News?
Your success is the college’s success and we want to celebrate with you! If you have landed a new job, received an award or recognition, stepped into a leadership role or have good news in general, let us know.
| | | At Arizona Law, we are a center for intellectual rigor and discussion, with classes and programs teaching practical skills and legal theory. But we are also the starting point for remarkable work that goes well beyond our hallways. Justices James Patrick Beene, Kathryn Hackett King and now Maria Elena Cruz, are examples of the extraordinary work of our alumni and the potential to which our current students can aspire. | | | | |
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