Federico Hernández Denton
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Federico Hernández Denton (born April 12, 1944) is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Hernández received his Law Degree from Harvard University in 1969.
[edit] Biography
He began his career as Legal Advisor to the President of the University of Puerto Rico.
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 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 mandatory retirement age of 70.
After reported strife that emanated between Hernández Denton and Puerto Rico Attorney General, Roberto Sánchez Ramos, Chief Justice Hernández Denton was reportedly shunned and left alone by other justices that apparently did not choose to accompany him as representatives of the Judicial Branch at the annual State of the Union address that was delivered by Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, on Tuesday, March 6, 2007. According to reports, no one remembers if there is any other occasion in which only one Justice of the Supreme Court has represented the Judicial Branch at the Governor's State of the Union speech in Puerto Rico's Joint House/Senate Session held annually at the Capitol Building.
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.
[edit] External links
- Hernández Denton biography at the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico website - in Spanish.
- Supreme Court of Puerto Rico: "Conservative and Slow" (Conservador y lento) - Primera Hora; Oscar J. Serrano; April 2, 2007
| Preceded by Hiram Torres Rigual |
Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico 1985-2004 |
Succeeded by Anabelle Rodríguez |
| Preceded by Miriam Naveira |
Chief Justice of Puerto Rico 2004-present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
