New Texas Supreme Court Justice Rebeca Huddle said she felt like she was "on cloud nine" when assuming her new bench Friday. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who appointed Huddle to replace retiring Justice Paul Green, administered the oath of office to Huddle at a swearing-in ceremony in the high court's courtroom in Austin. It's a profound honor to join the Texas Supreme Court, Huddle said. "All people are governed by the same constitutional laws, no matter who we are," Huddle said. "The rule of law demands many things of our judicial system and of each of the justices who work in it: neutrality, independence, impartiality, fitness and above all, a commitment to faithfully apply the constitution and other laws as they are written, and not as we think they ought to have been written, so we'll preserve the rule of law for future generations. I'll bring all of these values to the work of the court, and to every case I work on."

Watch the ceremony:
Chief Justice Nathan Hecht explained that Huddle is a first-generation American who was born and raised in El Paso. She earned her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Huddle worked as a commercial litigator and appellate lawyer for 12 years at Baker Botts. Next, then-Gov. Rick Perry appointed Huddle to Houston's First Court of Appeals, where she served from 2011 to 2017. Huddle then returned to Baker Botts, where she worked as partner-in-charge of the Houston office. Abbott said that Huddle's appointment would make the "premiere" Supreme Court of the nation even more exceptional. She would become an asset on the court and fit in with the court family, he said. "Rebeca is blessed with a brilliant legal mind, as well as a very quick wit," said Abbott. "She will come in ready to participate aggressively in addressing the legal challenges and issues that come before the court. She brings her own unique perspective to this court." Just before he administered Huddle's oath, Abbott thanked Green, who retired in August, for his 16 years serving on the high court. Abbott said, "I'm speaking for everybody associated with the court and state of Texas, that we express our deepest gratitude for your legacy of service on the court."

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