Barbara J. Vigil Explained

Barbara J. Vigil
Office:Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court
Term Start:November 6, 2012
Term End:June 30, 2021
Predecessor:Patricio M. Serna
Successor:Briana Zamora
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:New Mexico State University (BBA)
University of New Mexico (JD)

Barbara J. Vigil is an American attorney and jurist who served as a justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court from 2012 to 2021.

Early life and education

Vigil was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[2] She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from New Mexico State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law.[3]

Career

Prior to being elected to the bench, Vigil operated a private practice in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[4] She also served as a Children’s Court and state district judge before her time on the Supreme Court.[5]

She was elected to the court on November 6, 2012, defeating temporary appointee Paul J. Kennedy and assuming office in December 2012 to fill the remainder of retired Justice Patricio M. Serna's unexpired term.[6] Vigil was retained by voters in a retention election on November 8, 2016. Her term would have expired in 2024.[7] In April 2021, she announced her retirement effective June 30, 2021.[8] On August 21, 2021, Governor Lujan Grisham appointed Vigil as the Cabinet Secretary for New Mexico Children, Youth and Families, a position she held until May 1, 2023. Since then she has served on the Governor's Policy Advisory Council that was established by Executive Order 2023-020.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Barbara J. Vigil . Sandlin . Scott . September 28, 2012 . www.abqjournal.com . en-US . March 5, 2020.
  2. Web site: Associate Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court Barbara J. Vigil Will Address Western New Mexico University's Graduates. marinos. 2019-05-01. Western New Mexico University. en. 2020-05-09.
  3. Web site: Justice Barbara J. Vigil. supremecourt.nmcourts.gov. 2020-05-09.
  4. Web site: Justice Barbara J. Vigil. 31 March 2016.
  5. News: Haywood . Phaedra . CYFD secretary steps down, heads to advisory role . 1 November 2023 . Santa Fe New Mexican . April 14, 2023.
  6. Web site: Statewide Results. dead. http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20161108155809/http://www.electionpeople.com/nmger2012/StatewideResults/ShowStatewideResultsTable.aspx. 2016-11-08. 2016-11-05.
  7. Web site: 2016 General Election Contest/Candidate List. 2016-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20161007003031/https://candidateportal.sos.state.nm.us/CandidateList.aspx?eid=84&cty=99. 2016-10-07. dead.
  8. Web site: Haywood . Phaedra . April 27, 2021 . Justice Barbara Vigil to retire from New Mexico Supreme Court . June 22, 2021 . Santa Fe New Mexican . en.
  9. Web site: Transforming Services for Children, Youth and Families, and the Children, Youth and Families Department . State of New Mexico . 1 November 2023.