Former Justice Barbara Vigil honored by Tribal-State Judicial Consortium

  • Retired Supreme Court Justice Barbara Vigil, (center) currently the secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department, receives an engraved award plaque in recognition of her nearly two decades of work on behalf of the New Mexico Tribal-State Judicial Consortium. The award was presented by Consortium co-chairs Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Renee Torres (left) and Acoma Pueblo Tribal Court Judge Randolph Collins (right). Courtesy Photo
    Retired Supreme Court Justice Barbara Vigil, (center) currently the secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department, receives an engraved award plaque in recognition of her nearly two decades of work on behalf of the New Mexico Tribal-State Judicial Consortium. The award was presented by Consortium co-chairs Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Renee Torres (left) and Acoma Pueblo Tribal Court Judge Randolph Collins (right). Courtesy Photo

SANTA FE –

The New Mexico Tribal-State Judicial Consortium has honored retired Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Vigil for her leadership and counsel as a member of the organization and as the Court's liaison to it.

"Justice Vigil worked tirelessly on behalf of improving Tribal and State judicial relations and law, including the recent passage of the state Indian Family Protection Act legislation," said Consortium co-chairs Acoma Pueblo Tribal Court Judge Randolph Collins and Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Renee Torres. "We appreciate her friendship and look forward to working with Justice Vigil in her role as secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department."

Former Justice Vigil was a member of the Supreme Court from 2012 until her retirement in June 2021, and was the Court's liaison to the Consortium. She also served on the Consortium from 2000 to 2010 as a district court judge in the First Judicial District. The governor announced her appointment as the CYFD cabinet secretary in August 2021.

Judges Collins and Torres presented an award to former Justice Vigil during a luncheon at the Consortium's strategic planning retreat on May 19 in Santa Fe.

The Tribal-State Judicial Consortium is a Supreme Court advisory body that consists of seven state and seven tribal judges. Its mission is to encourage and facilitate communication and collaboration between State and Tribal Court judges on common issues such as child welfare, domestic relations, juvenile justice and treatment courts. The Consortium also works to organize training and education for judges within both judiciaries on federal and state rules and procedures.