First Xavier Alumna Installed as Arizona Supreme Court Justice

Before an audience of over 400 people, Kathryn Hackett King, a 1999 alumna of Xavier College Preparatory, was installed as a Justice to the Arizona Supreme Court on Friday, January 8, 2022.

The Investiture was held on the campus of Xavier College Preparatory. Xavier’s president, Sister Joan Fitzgerald, BVM, gave the invocation. Remarks were made by Chief Justice The Honorable Robert M. Brutinel, Arizona Governer Douglas Ducey, Christine Burns, Esq., Anita Hackett, Justice King’s mother, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi, and Justice King.

In her remarks, Sister Joan Fitzgerald, BVM, said of Justice King:

“As you embark on this awesome journey, you come with excellent academic preparation. Respect from those in the legal field who recognize your wisdom.

What a noble profession you have chosen — to bring justice to a world in need. Without justice, there is no hope. Without justice there is no peace. Justice is the great equalizer.”

Christine Burns, Justice King’s former law partner, said:

“Girls, you can dream big. Look at Justice King. She skillfully manages two important jobs: motherhood and serving on Arizona’s Supreme Court.”

Justice King graduated from Duke University and The University of Arizona College of Law. She has held positions of leadership, both elected and appointed. She has served on a variety of boards and committees and has received numerous awards for her service.

She served as Law Clerk for Arizona Supreme Court Justice Michael Ryan to Deputy General Counsel for Governor Douglas Ducey to law partner at BurnesBarton, and a Regent on the Arizona Board of Regents.

Community service is integral to Xavier’s education, and Justice King carries that forth throughout her life.

At Xavier, Justice King was a student-athlete and served as a student ambassador. At graduation, she received the highest award given at Xavier, the Regina Caeli Award for Service.

Sister Joan Fitzgerald, BVM, president of Xavier, said, “Kate is one of our outstanding Xavier students who has taken her abilities and talent into the world, and we are very proud of her accomplishments.”