Carol Jean Vigil (October 24, 1947 – March 27, 2009[1]) was an American judge based in the state of New Mexico.
[2] Carol Jean Vigil was sworn in as a New Mexican 1st Judicial District state judge in June 1998.
[2] In a tribute to her heritage, Vigil was sworn into office while wearing a black judicial robe decorated with beaded Pueblo Indian symbols that included lightning, clouds, rain and mountains embroidered on her shoulders.
[2] In one of her most notable rulings, Vigil upheld state court jurisdiction over tort claims for personal injury which had been filed by customers of Native American gambling enterprises.
[2] Bryant Rogers, a Santa Fe attorney who served as Judge Vigil's treasurer during her 1998 election campaign, later discussed his former boss saying, "She was very serious about her work, really concerned about getting it right...very thoughtful and well prepared.