DOCSLIB.ORG

Hon. Juan R. Torruella

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hon. Juan R. Torruella IN MEMORIAM Hon. Juan R. Torruella "Judge Torruella’s embodiment of the figure of a judge was, however, most evident in his unwavering commitment to the Judiciary’s role in ensuring that the interest of justice was duly served." - William A. Sewell-Fernández SPRING 2021 | ISSUE NO. 59 SPRING 2021 | ISSUE NO. Index Editor’s Committee Message pg.2 Clerks Tidings pg.9 President’s Message pg.3 Commentary: What’s taking up so long for judges to rule? pg.13 Upcoming Events pg.3 FBA Student Chapters pg.15 Torruella: unclassifiable hero pg.4 FBA’s Federal Bar Review Course pg.16 In Honor of My Mentor pg.5 President Blurbs of Past Activities pg.18 Note on Judge Juan R. Torruella pg.5 Joseph G. Feldstein-Del Valle The Judge: a peek from the inside pg.6 President Elect Linette Figueroa-Torres Judge Torruella: A legacy of commitment to justice pg.8 Vice President Diana Pérez-Seda National Delegate Sarika Angulo-Velázquez Secretary Message from the Editor’s Committee Jaime Torrens-Dávila Treasurer Juan R. Rivera-Font Directors Roberto Abesada-Agüet Cristina Caraballo-Colón Alfonso Pérez-Díaz Sarika J. Angulo-Velázquez Zarel Soto-Acabá Linette Figueroa-Torres Cecilia M. Suau-Badia Cecilia M. Suau-Badía Carolina Velaz-Rivero With this issue we commemorate the most be remembered as our esteemed Honorable Judge Juan R. Torruella friend, mentor, and colleague. Today Immediate Past President (1933-2020). In honor of Judge Torru- we celebrate him. Natalia Morales-Echeverría ella, we look back to his legacy and remember with great appreciation his In this issue you will find articles writ- unconditional help to the Hon. Ray- ten by former law clerks who had the Copyright ©2021 by the Federal Bar Association, Honorable Raymond L. Acosta mond L. Acosta PR Chapter of the Fed- privilege of working with Judge Tor- Puerto Rico Chapter. eral Bar Association. ruella during his tenure. We particu- The contents of From the Bar may not be larly thank Ricardo F. Casellas, Néstor reproduced without the express written As you may already know, Judge Tor- Méndez, Margarita Mercado, Jacabed consent of the author. This newsletter is intended for information only ruella was nominated by President Rodríguez, and William Sewell for mak- and is not to be considered legal advice. Gerald Ford and appointed as United ing this issue possible. We also thank The views ex pressed by counsel in the articles published herein are entirely States district judge in 1974. He then María Antongiorgi, Esq., Clerk of Court, theirs and not of the Chapter or the served as chief judge of this Court from for her contribution to this issue and editorial board. 1983 to 1984. In 1984, President Ron- look forward to learning more about Editor’s Committee ald Regan nominated him to the Unit- the inner-workings of her office. ed States Court of Appeals for the First Sarika J. Angulo-Velázquez [email protected] Circuit where he served for thirty-eight We hope you enjoy this issue of years, and as its chief judge from 1994 From the Bar as much as we en- Linette Figueroa-Torres to 2001. Despite reaching retirement joyed putting it together and invite [email protected] age two decades ago, Judge Torruella you to submit your articles or notes Cecilia M. Suau-Badía remained active on the bench without for publication in upcoming issues by [email protected] diminishing his workload. An accom- e-mail to: [email protected]; Requests for additional copies, plished lawyer, scholar, writer, and [email protected]; [email protected]. submissions, or address updates should be directed to the Editor’s Committee. Olympian, Judge Torruella will fore- 2 President’s Message My Fellow FBA-PR Chapter members: passing of the Hon. Juan R. Torruel- la, for whom this edition of From the From hurricanes and civil unrest to Bar is dedicated to. And most recent- pandemic year-long lockdowns, a lot ly, we grieved the sad passing of the has happened since our last From the Hon. Juan Pérez-Giménez who will be Bar edition. The world had to quickly duly honored by the FBA-PR. To those adapt to a new way of life; our noble who have been personally affected by profession, as well. Change came COVID-19, be it professionally or by without warning and decades of ways way of sickness or loss of someone of doing business and work routines near and dear, know that the Chapter were upended and had to be re-in- grieves with you and is here for you. vented overnight. Words like “VTC”, “Zoom”, “Skype” and “remote” be- Nevertheless, seasons change, and came part of our daily vocabulary. This we carry on knowing that we are was no different for the Hon. Raymond here for each other in good times and L. Acosta Chapter. After Hurricane in bad times. I am extremely grate- María, we focused on revamping in- ful to preside over such a commit- ternally. But, when we finally gained ted and engaged Board that takes the momentum we were after, the time out of their busy schedules to pandemic came about and threw the serve our membership. I know that proverbial wrench in our wheels caus- the FBA-PR’s future will be a bright ing us to re-envision the way we en- one as it is entrusted in their hands. gage with our membership. Thankful- ly, using our new vernacular, we have Cordially, been able to stay relevant via Zoom! Joseph G. Feldstein The year 2020 came at a great cost President for all. Our Chapter had two significant Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Chapter losses that year. First, we mourned the Federal Bar Association Upcoming Events Local National • Conference in memoriam of Judge Juan M. • Indian Law Conference (Virtual) Pérez-Giménez (Virtual) April 8-9 Date to be announced • Webinar: International Business • Webinar: Civility Transactions: A guide for the Practitioner Date to be announced April 21 • Webinar: Virtual Depositions • Art Law & Litigation Conference (Virtual) Date to be announced April 29-30 • Webinar: Child Pornography and Human • Webinar: Alternative Dispute Resolution Trafficking and Labor & Employment Law April 2021 May 19 • Webinar: Death Penalty Practice • 2021 FBA Annual Meeting & Convention Date to be announced (Miami, FL) • Conference on White Collar Practice (Virtual) September 23-25 Date to be announced • Judge Jay A. García – 20 Years on the Bench (Virtual) Date to be announced 3 Torruella: unclassifiable hero by Néstor M. Méndez “pro-statehood”, “sexist”, “feminist”, anyone else. His 2018 article in the “corrupt” and many other terms are Harvard Law Review, “Why Puerto used disparagingly and accusatorily to Rico Does Not Need Further Exper- dispose of contrary ideas in the easi- imentation With Its Future: a Reply to est way, without evaluation or study, the Notion of Territorial Federalism” is much less dialogue. Judge Juan R. an extraordinary historical-legal anal- Torruella Del Valle was the object of ysis that unmasks, with the honesty that dangerous tendency that tries to that characterized Judge Torruella, the restrict the essence of freedom: the political situation in Puerto Rico. Iron- right to believe, to speak and write and ically, said prestigious law review had even to vote, freely. Appointed to the provided the intellectual support for His figure was imposing. Tall,federal district court in Puerto Rico by the fateful Insular Cases. True to form, broad-shouldered, with the strong President Gerald Ford in the turbulent Judge Torruella went to the lion’s cave, body of an Olympian. His hands 1970s, during the movement to expel where the discriminatory concept of were huge. They called for order in the Navy from the Puerto Rico islands unincorporated territories was born, to his courtroom without the need for a of Culebra and Vieques, his pro-state- highlight that in the 21st Century Puer- gavel. His presence was intimidating hood and republican background -bad to Rico is, as he defined it in his 1988 not only because of his physique but words for some even today– were book: “Separate and Unequal.” also because of his apparently tough, used by those who disagreed with his direct character, with an intense gaze personal beliefs, to try to define him as Extremely strict and demanding in and strong voice. But his smile and fine a pro-American die-hard in the service court when I appeared before him, my humor revealed his great humanity, of the metropolis. Forty-six years lat- fondest memories of Judge Torruella despite his incredible discipline and er, he is recognized as a great Puerto are those when he became simply “Bil- intensity in everything he did. He did Rican patriot and defender of human lo” (his nickname to friends and family) not use his powerful hands to slam his rights and maybe our most internation- and after using his powerful hands to judicial bench or other human beings. ally recognized Olympic athlete, hav- warmly say hello and his strong voice He used them to prodigiously write ing received the Pierre de Coubertin to offer some fine humorous remarks, more than 2,000 judicial opinions, two medal and the Olympic Order. he would sit down with a guitar or man- books and dozens of articles on the dolin on his lap, strum its strings and most important issues of our times and Although his appointment as the first we would sing the best songs of our our lives: on the legal origin of Puerto Hispanic judge in a Federal Court of popular music in a fraternal bohemian Rico’s colonial condition from the Insu- Appeals is greatly emphasized (he was atmosphere.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • District Clerk
    If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. ,.p.l I r r " 28 2 5 1.0 :: 11111 . _ 11111 . 3 2 I IIIII~~ n~M1. 11111 - . 3 6 Ik\ 11111 . BOO 4 0 Ii'-2. 001,I~. • 0 I• I :ij'",li IIIII~~ 111111.8 111111.25 111111.4 111111.6 150mm ->-----~-..... 6" UNI,TED STATES COURT. DIRECTORY Sf March 1, 1986 U.S. DepFrtment of Justice Natlonallnstitute of Justice This document has been reproduced exactly as received from the person or organization originallng it. Points of view or opinions staled in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Institute of Justice. Permission to reproduce this ~l:lted material has been granted by • • Publlc DOmaln Lnllted States Court Directory to the National Criminal JUstice Reference Service (NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permis­ " ) sion of the epp.y.ri:ght owner. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 I 053 03 • UNITED STATES COURT DIRECTORY Issued by: The Administrative Office of the United States Courts Washington, D.C. 20544 Contents: Personnel Division Office of the Chief (633-6115) Printing & Distribution: Administrative Services Division Printing & Distribution Facility (763-1865) • • The information in this Directory is current as of March I, 1986 TABLE OF CONTENTS Supreme Court ...................................................................................................................... • United
    [Show full text]
  • Report of Operations 1999-2003
    Report of Operations 1999-2003 United States District Court District of Puerto Rico Héctor M. Laffitte, Chief Judge Frances Ríos de Morán, Clerk of Court On the Cover: Federico Degetau Federal Building and Clemente Ruíz Nazario United States Courthouse San Juan, Puerto Rico United States District Court District of Puerto Rico UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGES Hon. Héctor M. Laffitte, Chief Judge Hon. Juan M. Pérez-Giménez Hon. Carmen C. Cerezo Hon. José A. Fusté Hon. Salvador E. Casellas Hon. Daniel R. Domínguez Hon. Jay A. García-Gregory SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGES Hon. Gilberto Gierbolini Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Hon. Jaime Pieras, Jr. UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES Hon. Jesús A. Castellanos Hon. Justo Arenas Hon. Aida M. Delgado-Colón Hon. Gustavo A. Gelpí OFFICE OF THE CLERK Frances Ríos de Morán, Esq., Clerk of Court Angel A. Valencia-Aponte, Esq., Chief Deputy Clerk Laura E. Rivera, Operations Manager Damaris Delgado-Vega, Esq., Administrative Manager Norman Aybar, Systems Manager Carmen I. Arroyo, Human Resources Manager Table of Contents Page Greetings from the Chief Judge ..................... 4 Message from the Clerk of Court .................... 5 Mission Statement ...............................6 Judicial Committees.............................. 7 Highlights ......................................8 Judicial Milestones ..............................12 Court Profile ...................................13 Operations ....................................14 Statistical Charts................................17 Human Resources ..............................20
    [Show full text]
  • Summer 2016 – 50Th Anniversary Special Issue
    A publication of the Federal Bar Association, Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Puerto Rico Chapter SUMMER 2016 ISSUE NO. 57 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE IN THIS ISSUE Anniversary Message from the Chief Judge of the From Cardstock to Paperless: 50 Years of Evolution • 26 U.S. District Court • 3 Trial by Jury • 31 The History of the U.S. District Court for the District of The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Office: District of Puerto Rico as an Article III Court Over Five Decades • 6 Puerto Rico • 33 Historical Development of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Did You Know Answers • 36 for the District of Puerto Rico • 18 Magistrate Judges in the District of Puerto Rico: A History of Service • 21 IN EVERY ISSUE: A Legislative History of the District of Puerto Rico Message from the Editor • 2 Article III Court • 24 The Federal Bar Association Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Puerto Rico Chapter MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Luz C. Molinelli-González With this issue we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the District of Puerto Rico Article III Court. In honor of this event, we look back to the Court’s history as well as its current and future projects. As you may already know, the Hon. Raymond L. Acosta PR Chapter of the Federal Bar Association– BOARD OF DIRECTORS Puerto Rico Chapter (previously the Antilles Chapter of the FBA) was President founded only one year after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Public Salvador J. Antonetti Stutts Law 89-571. Since its inception, our Chapter has been blessed with the President Elect continued support from the federal judiciary, its judges, magistrates, Mariano A.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of Operations 2004-2010
    2004PAGE 1 - REPORT OF OPERATIONS EPORT OF PERATIONS 2010 R O Honorable José A. Fusté, Chief Judge Frances Ríos de Morán, Esq., Clerk of Court PAGE 2 REPORT OF OPERATIONS Special Acknowledgements Over the years encompassed by this Report, many persons have collaborated towards its completion. However, I want to especially recognize the contribution of Management Analyst Gizelle M. Rivera. Gizelle spent countless hours researching, compiling, drafting, and editing the information included in the Report, all with great care and dedication. I also want to make a special mention of Programmer Analyst José A. Aponte-Lucena and Computer Technology Administrator Edgar Natal for their invaluable support in this endeavor. Frances Ríos de Morán, Esq. Clerk, U.S. District Court REPORT OF OPERATIONS PAGE 3 A Message from the Chief Judge ……………………………………… 4 A Message from the Clerk of Court ……………………………………. 5 Our Court in 2010 …………………………………………………………. 6 The Historical Portraits Project (1789-2010) ……………..……………. 7 Mission Statement and Court Profile …………………………………... 11 Office of the Clerk: Organization Chart ………………………………. 12 Human Resources …………………………………………………………. 13 Trainings …………………………………………………………....... 14 Transactions ………………………………………………………… 17 Administration and Finance …………………………………………….. 20 Criminal Justice Act ………………………………………………. 22 Space and Facilities ………………………………………………. 23 Systems ………………………………………………………………………. 27 IT Events ………………….. …………………………………………. 28 Court Technology …………………………………………………. 34 Operations ………………………………………………………………….. 36 Intake,
    [Show full text]
  • 1St Issue on Judicial Profiles Hiram Rafael José V
    A publication of the Federal Bar Association, Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Puerto Rico Chapter Summer 2018 ISSUE NO. 59 1ST ISSUE ON JUDICIAL PROFILES Hiram Rafael José V. Toledo Hernán G. Juan R. Torruella Cancio (1970-1980) Pesquera (1974-1984) (1965-1974) (1972-1982) Juan M. Carmen Jaime Héctor M. Pérez-Giménez Consuelo Cerezo Pieras, Jr. Laffitte (1979-Present) (1980-Present) (1982-2011) (1983-2007) Salvador E. Jay A. García Francisco Pedro Alberto Casellas Gregory Augusto Besosa Delgado Hernández (1994-2017) (2000-Present) (2006-Present) (2014–Present) Jose V. Toledo Federal Building and United States Courthouse (Photo by Osvaldo Ocasio/Wikipedia) The Federal Bar Association Hon. Raymond L. Acosta MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Puerto Rico Chapter José L. Ramírez-Coll This issue of From the Bar is our Chapter’s first since hurricane María made landfall on our island’s shores in September of 2017. María reshaped Puerto Rico’s landscape—both literally and metaphorically— forever. Just like every American may recall exactly where she or he was on the fateful day of President Kennedy’s assassination, or on 9/11, so will generations of Puerto Ricans have the date of BOARD OF DIRECTORS September 20, 2017 engrained into their collective consciousness. The President question that today, months after surviving such a destructive natural José L. Ramirez-Coll phenomenon, still lingers in our mind, is as simple to ask as it is complex to President Elect answer: What now? María Ligia Giraldez What comes next in Puerto Rico’s immediate and short-term future has Vice President the potential to make or break an island with a reeling infrastructure and Natalia Morales-Echeverría a stagnant economy.
    [Show full text]
  • 50Th Anniversary Special Issue
    A publication of the Federal Bar Association, Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Puerto Rico Chapter SUMMER 2016 ISSUE NO. 57 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE IN THIS ISSUE Anniversary Message from the Chief Judge of the From Cardstock to Paperless: 50 Years of Evolution • 26 U.S. District Court • 3 Trial by Jury • 31 The History of the U.S. District Court for the District of The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Office: District of Puerto Rico as an Article III Court Over Five Decades • 6 Puerto Rico • 33 Historical Development of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Did You Know Answers • 36 for the District of Puerto Rico • 18 Magistrate Judges in the District of Puerto Rico: A History of Service • 21 IN EVERY ISSUE: A Legislative History of the District of Puerto Rico Message from the Editor • 2 Article III Court • 24 The Federal Bar Association Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Puerto Rico Chapter MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Luz C. Molinelli-González With this issue we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the District of Puerto Rico Article III Court. In honor of this event, we look back to the Court’s history as well as its current and future projects. As you may already know, the Hon. Raymond L. Acosta PR Chapter of the Federal Bar Association– BOARD OF DIRECTORS Puerto Rico Chapter (previously the Antilles Chapter of the FBA) was President founded only one year after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Public Salvador J. Antonetti Stutts Law 89-571. Since its inception, our Chapter has been blessed with the President Elect continued support from the federal judiciary, its judges, magistrates, Mariano A.
    [Show full text]
  • A Tribute to the Honorable Raymond L. Acosta
    A publication of the Federal Bar Association, Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Puerto Rico Chapter SUMMER 2015 ISSUE NO. 54 A TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE RAYMOND L. ACOSta IN THIS ISSUE In Memoriam: Judge Raymond L. Roberto A. Cámara Fuertes, Conference on Cyber Crimes • 11 Acosta • 3 Esq. President of the Federal Bar Brown Bag Lunch with Ceremony in Remembrance of the Association • 9 Hon. José A. Fusté • 12 Hon. Raymond L. Acosta • 4 ARTICLES Brown Bag Lunch on Entertainment REMARKS BY Maritime Law in the U.S. and Puerto and Sports Law • 12 Judge Raymond L. Acosta • 6 Rico: From Theory to Practice • 10 IN EVERY ISSUE: Hon. Carmen Consuelo Cerezo • 7 ACTIVITIES Message from the Editor • 2 Chief Judge Aida M. Delgado- Seminar on Social Media • 10 FBA News: Did you know? • 13 Colón • 8 Conference on Healthcare Fraud • 11 The Federal Bar Association Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Puerto Rico Chapter MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Luz C. Molinelli-González This issue is a tribute to Hon. Raymond L. Acosta, a devoted public servant who honorably served three decades on the bench, and an exceptional jurist BOARD OF DIRECTORS whose grace and gentility are known to all in his President professional and personal life. Roberto A. Cámara Fuertes As many of you know, Judge Acosta was one of the President Elect founders of the Antilles Chapter of the Federal Bar Salvador J. Antonetti Stutts Association, serving as its president in 1967. Due to his continuous Vice President support and compromise with the organization, on 2010 the Puerto Rico Mariano A.
    [Show full text]
  • United States Courts for the First Circuit
    UNITED STATES COURTS FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT 2012 ANNUAL REPORT United States Courts for the First Circuit 2012 Annual Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword.....................................................................1 Structure of the Federal Judiciary. 2 Narrative Reports of the Units of the Court of Appeals Clerk's Office. 4 Office of the Staff Attorneys. 5 Civil Appeals Management Program.. 6 Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.. 7 Libraries of the First Circuit.. 7 Narrative Reports of the Districts District of Maine. 12 District of Massachusetts. 24 District of New Hampshire. 34 District of Puerto Rico. 44 District of Rhode Island. 66 Narrative Reports of the Federal Public Defenders Federal Public Defender for the District of Maine.. 81 Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. 82 Federal Public Defender for the District of Puerto Rico. 84 Narrative Reports on Matters of Judicial Administration Judicial Conference of the United States: March and September 2012. 86 First Circuit Judicial Conferences. 88 Business of the First Circuit Judicial Council. 90 Space and Facilities. 91 Information Technology.. 94 Judicial Misconduct and Disability .. 96 Attorney Discipline. 99 History and Notable Events. 100 2012 Fair Employment Practices Report. 101 Other Matters of the Court Judgeship Summary. 104 First Circuit Judges serving on United States Judicial Conference Committees, Special Courts and the Board of the Federal Judicial Center. 105 Judges serving on the Judicial Council of the First Circuit. 107 Judges serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. 108 Listing of Judges and Court Unit Executives.. 109 i. TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Statistical Reports United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
    [Show full text]