At the end of last month, the first Latin X member was added to serve as a judge on California’s Supreme Court.

Patrica Guerrero has served on the Court of Appeals, as assistant to the U.S. Attorney General, and on the San Diego Superior court.

“I never would have dreamed that I would be here today,” said Guerro in a speech before her swearing-in, “ As I look at this audience and reflect on what today means and how I got here one thing is clear to me. I did not get here alone. I am here because of the courage, sacrifices, and struggles of my parents and grandparents.”

Guerrero was born in Imperial Valley and graduated from high school in the 1990s. In 1994 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California. She went on to receive a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School in 1997.

From 2002 to 2003 she was an assistant to the U.S. attorney general for the Southern District of California. Since then, Patrica Guerrero was a lawyer working at Latham and Watkins LLP from 2007 to 2013. She worked at the San Diego Superior court in family law in 2013. In November of 2017, Guerrero was appointed to the Court of Appeals in the fourth district.

Patrica Guerro’s addition to California’s highest state court has an impact because according to California’s Census less than half of California’s population is Hispanic or Latin X.

At the ceremony were Guerro’s mother and father who immigrated from Mexico to Imperial valley, and Guerro’s husband and two children.

“This is not about the first, it is about the best,” said Newsom, swearing Patirca Guerrero in,” It’s about your family, it’s about your community, it’s about your history.”

As an appellate judge serving for the Fourth District Court of Appeals, Patrica Guerro has helped immigration cases by doing pro-bono work to give fair due process and serving on the Advisory Board of the Immigration Justice Project.

“So, again governor to you and your entire team. I am deeply honored and humbled by this Historic Nomination,” stated Patrica Guerrero.