Santa Fe, N.M. — Justice Julie J. Vargas was sworn in Wednesday as Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Justice Vargas was elected to the position by her colleagues on the court and will serve a two‑year term. She becomes the 44th person to lead the state’s highest court and succeeds Justice David K. Thomson, who had served as Chief Justice since 2024.
As Chief Justice, Vargas will preside over Supreme Court hearings and conferences while serving as the administrative authority over personnel, budgets, and operations for all state courts. The role also includes representing the judiciary in legislative and other matters.
Vargas has served on the New Mexico Supreme Court since 2020, following four years on the state Court of Appeals. Prior to joining the bench, she spent more than two decades in private legal practice focusing on real estate and commercial litigation.
She previously chaired a judicial committee examining alternatives to the traditional bar examination and continues to work with ethics and professional responsibility committees within the court system.
The judicial branch of New Mexico includes the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts, magistrate courts, metropolitan, probate, and municipal courts statewide.
