Hector Manuel Laffitte
Encyclopedia
Hector Manuel Laffitte is a former United States federal judge
.
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico
, Laffitte received a B.A.
from Polytechnic Institute of Puerto Rico (now Interamerican University) in 1955, an LL.B. from the University of Puerto Rico Law School
in 1959, and an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center
in 1960. He was in private practice in Puerto Rico
from 1960 to 1983.
On May 26, 1983, Laffitte was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
vacated by Hernan G. Pesquera. Laffitte was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 26, 1983, and received his commission on July 27, 1983. He served as chief judge from 1999 to 2004, assuming senior status
on November 15, 2005. Laffitte served in that capacity until his retirement from the bench on February 16, 2007.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, Laffitte received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Polytechnic Institute of Puerto Rico (now Interamerican University) in 1955, an LL.B. from the University of Puerto Rico Law School
University of Puerto Rico Law School
The University of Puerto Rico School of Law is a law school in Puerto Rico. It is one of the professional graduate schools of University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus and the only law school in the University of Puerto Rico System. It was founded in 1913 at its present site in Río Piedras,...
in 1959, and an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 1960. He was in private practice in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
from 1960 to 1983.
On May 26, 1983, Laffitte was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
The United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The court is based in San Juan. The main building is the Clemente Ruiz Nazario U.S. Courthouse located in the Hato Rey district of San Juan...
vacated by Hernan G. Pesquera. Laffitte was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on July 26, 1983, and received his commission on July 27, 1983. He served as chief judge from 1999 to 2004, assuming senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on November 15, 2005. Laffitte served in that capacity until his retirement from the bench on February 16, 2007.