Federico Hernández Denton
Encyclopedia
Federico Hernández Denton (born April 12, 1944) is the 15th Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
. Hernández received his Law Degree from Harvard University
in 1969.
.
In 1972, he served as the Popular Democratic Party
gubernatorial candidate Rafael Hernandez Colon
's campaign manager. Hernández Colón subsequently appointed him as Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs
.
Hernández Denton was appointed to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
by Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
in 1985 to fill the vacancy left by Associate Justice Hiram Torres Rigual. After the Senate of Puerto Rico confirmed his nomination he took the oath of office on June 14, 1985.
After Chief Justice Miriam Naveira retired from her position in 2004, Puerto Rico Governor Sila M. Calderón elevated Hernández Denton to Chief Justice. He was confirmed by the Senate and officially began his term as the 15th Chief Justice in the history of the Court on August 9, 2004. He will be required to step down as a member of the Court on April 12, 2014, when he reaches the constitutionally-mandated retirement age of 70.
Federico Hernández Denton is a member of the American Bar Association
and is perceived as a moderate on the court.
In 2007, he was elected to the board of the Conference of Chief Justices
.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is the highest court of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, having judicial authority within Puerto Rico to interpret and decide questions of Commonwealth law. As the highest body of the judicial branch of the Puerto Rican government, it is analogous to one of the...
. Hernández received his Law Degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1969.
Biography
He began his career as Legal Advisor to the President of the University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
.
In 1972, he served as the Popular Democratic Party
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
gubernatorial candidate Rafael Hernandez Colon
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
's campaign manager. Hernández Colón subsequently appointed him as Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs
Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs
The Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs, was created by Law 5 of April 23, 1973 as a Cabinet-level successor to ASERCO, or Administration for Services to Consumers...
.
Hernández Denton was appointed to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is the highest court of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, having judicial authority within Puerto Rico to interpret and decide questions of Commonwealth law. As the highest body of the judicial branch of the Puerto Rican government, it is analogous to one of the...
by Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
in 1985 to fill the vacancy left by Associate Justice Hiram Torres Rigual. After the Senate of Puerto Rico confirmed his nomination he took the oath of office on June 14, 1985.
After Chief Justice Miriam Naveira retired from her position in 2004, Puerto Rico Governor Sila M. Calderón elevated Hernández Denton to Chief Justice. He was confirmed by the Senate and officially began his term as the 15th Chief Justice in the history of the Court on August 9, 2004. He will be required to step down as a member of the Court on April 12, 2014, when he reaches the constitutionally-mandated retirement age of 70.
Federico Hernández Denton is a member of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
and is perceived as a moderate on the court.
In 2007, he was elected to the board of the Conference of Chief Justices
Conference of Chief Justices
The Conference of Chief Justices was created in 1949 after the need for an organization composed of the states and territories top jurists was amply discussed at the American Bar Association and other juridical organizations. The first meeting, organized by the Council of State Governments and...
.
External links
- Hernández Denton biography at the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico website - in SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. - Supreme Court of Puerto Rico: "Conservative and Slow" (Conservador y lento) - Primera Hora; Oscar J. Serrano; April 2, 2007