Juan Torruella

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Juan Torruella
Image of Juan Torruella

Nonpartisan

Prior offices
United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit

Education

Bachelor's

University of Pennsylvania, 1954

Graduate

University of Virginia School of Law, 1984

Law

Boston University School of Law, 1957

Personal
Birthplace
San Juan, PR

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Juan R. Torruella was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. He joined the court in 1984 after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan (R). His service ended on October 26, 2020, when he died. Torruella served as chief judge of the 1st Circuit from 1994 to 2001.

Before his nomination to the 1st Circuit, Torruella was a district judge for the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. He joined the district court in 1974 upon his nomination by President Gerald Ford (R).[1]

Early life and education

A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Torruella graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with his bachelor's degree in 1954 and from Boston University's School of Law with his J.D. in 1957. He went on to graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law with his LL.M. in 1984. He also earned a master's in public affairs (M.P.A.) from the University of Puerto Rico School of Public Administration in 1984.[1]

Professional career

Judicial career

First Circuit Court of Appeals

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Juan R. Torruella del Valle
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit
Progress
Confirmed 64 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: August 1, 1984
DefeatedAABA Rating:
Questionnaire:
ApprovedAHearing: August 8, 1984
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: September 20, 1984 
ApprovedAConfirmed: October 4, 1984

Torruella was nominated by President Ronald Reagan (R) on August 1, 1984, to a new seat created on the United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit created by 98 Stat. 333. Hearings on Torruella's nomination were held before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary on August 8, 1984, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) on September 20, 1984. Torruella was confirmed on a voice vote of the U.S. Senate on October 4, 1984, and he received his commission the same day. Torruella served as chief judge of the First Circuit from 1994 to 2001. His service ended on October 26, 2020, when he died.[1][2]

District of Puerto Rico

Torruella was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico by President Gerald Ford on November 18, 1974, to a seat vacated by Judge Hiram Cancio. Torruella was confirmed by the Senate on December 18, 1974, and he received his commission on December 20, 1974. Torruella served as chief judge of the court from 1982 to 1984. He resigned from the district court on October 30, 1984, upon his elevation to the First Circuit.[1] Torruella was succeeded in this position by Judge Jose Fuste.

Awards

  • 1998: Roger Williams University, Honorary Doctor of Law
  • 1998: International Olympic Committee, Olympic Order
  • 1995: St. Johns University, Honorary Doctor of Law
  • 1995: Boston University, Alumni Award
  • 1992: 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of the America's Medal
  • 1982: Boston University, Silver Shingle Award

Former Olympian

Torruella competed in four consecutive Olympic Games as a sailor for the Puerto Rican yachting team, beginning in 1964 through the 1976 games. He served as a coach in the 1984 and 1988 games. He served as president of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an international organization that works to settle sports disputes, for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.[3][4]

Noteworthy cases

Truth defense (2009)
See also: United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit (Alan S. Noonan v. Staples, Inc., No. 07-2159)

On February 13, 2009, Torruella wrote the opinion in Noonan v. Staples, which held that a finding of libel can be made by a court even when the potentially libelous comment is true. Some legal analysts say this is the first federal court decision in the United States that goes against the precedent that truth is an absolute defense against libel.[5]

See also

External links


Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Federal Judicial Center, "Biographical directory of federal judges," accessed January 27, 2014
  2. ↑ United States Congress, "PN 1037 — Juan R. Torruella del Valle — The Judiciary," accessed December 21, 2016
  3. ↑ National Law Journal, "Hundreds of trips: who's paying?" October 24, 2011
  4. ↑ Boston University School of Law, "Commencement 2014," accessed May 10, 2016
  5. ↑ The Guardian, "With malice aforethought," February 17, 2009
Political offices
Preceded by:
NA - New Seat
98 Stat. 333 		First Circuit Court of Appeals
1984–2020
Seat #5 		Succeeded by:
Gustavo Gelpí
Preceded by:
Hiram Cancio 		District of Puerto Rico
1974–1984
Seat #1 		Succeeded by:
Jose Fuste




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