AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)- Eva Guzman this week became the newest justice on the Texas Supreme Court.
Guzman, who was Republican Gov. Rick Perry's judicial pick, was sworn in Monday. She was tapped to fill the vacancy left by Scott Brister, who left the bench in September to join the law firm of Andrews Kurth LLP.
"For this day I have prayed, I have dreamed, and I have worked," Guzman said at her swearing in ceremony. "Texas is a great state. America is a wonderful country. Anything is possible. Never give up, set your goals high, dream big."
Legal observers have said she will provide a reliably conservative voice on the state high court.
In an earlier interview with Legal Newsline, the president of the Texas Civil Justice League, George Christian, hailed Guzman as a strict constructionist.
"Our members see her as a conservative in terms of her judicial philosophy," Christian said. "She seems to get very high marks all around."
Guzman, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, is the first Latina to serve on the Texas Supreme Court. She was previously on the Texas 14th Court of Appeals in Houston. Perry appointed Guzman to the post in 2001. She won election in 2002 and 2004.
From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.