Justice Julie J. Vargas was sworn in as Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court on April 8, following her election by colleagues to a two-year term. She is the 44th person to serve as Chief Justice, succeeding Justice David K. Thomson, who had held the position since 2024.
Vargas said it is “a great privilege and honor to serve the people of New Mexico in leading the state’s judicial branch of government.” She added, “I look forward to working with our dedicated judges, court staff and others in the legal community to expand access to justice, particularly in rural areas where there are few attorneys.”
As Chief Justice, Vargas will preside over Supreme Court hearings and conferences and oversee administrative matters such as personnel, budgets, and general operations for all state courts. The role also includes advocating for the judiciary on legislative issues.
Vargas has chaired a judicial committee exploring alternatives to the current bar examination process for licensing lawyers in New Mexico and plans to continue collaborating with ethics committees focused on professionalism among attorneys and judges.
She joined the Supreme Court in 2020 after serving four years on the state Court of Appeals. Before her judicial appointments, she spent more than two decades practicing law privately with an emphasis on real estate and commercial litigation. Vargas earned her law degree from the University of New Mexico in 1993—where she was editor of its Law Review—and holds an undergraduate degree from Brown University.
The swearing-in ceremony marked a transition at a time when expanding access to justice remains a key focus for court leadership across New Mexico.
