Gustavo Gelpí | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit | |
| Assumed office October 19, 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Juan R. Torruella |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico | |
| In office April 13, 2018 – October 20, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Aida Delgado-Colón |
| Succeeded by | Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico | |
| In office August 1, 2006 – October 20, 2021 | |
| Appointed by | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Hector Manuel Laffitte |
| Succeeded by | María Antongiorgi-Jordán |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gustavo Antonio Gelpí Jr. (1965-12-11)December 11, 1965 (age 59) |
| Education | Brandeis University (BA) Suffolk University (JD) |
Gustavo Antonio Gelpí Jr. (born December 11, 1965)[1] is an American lawyer who serves as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He is a former chief United States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
Born in 1965, inSan Juan, Puerto Rico, Gelpí attended high school atAcademia del Perpetuo Socorro. He received aBachelor of Arts degree fromBrandeis University in 1987 and aJuris Doctor fromSuffolk University Law School inBoston, Massachusetts in 1991. He was alaw clerk toJuan Pérez-Giménez of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico from 1991 to 1993.[2] Gelpí was then an assistant federalpublic defender in the office of thefederal public defender from 1993 to 1997. He worked in Puerto Rico's Department of Justice from 1997 to 1999, first as an assistant to the attorney general, and then as assistant attorney general for the office of legal counsel. During Puerto Rico GovernorPedro Rosselló's second term, Gelpí served as Puerto Rico's Solicitor General from 1999 to 2000.[2] He was a special litigation counsel in thelaw firm of McConnell Valdes from January to June in 2001.[2]
Gelpí served as aUnited States magistrate judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2006.[2]
On April 24, 2006, PresidentGeorge W. Bush nominated Gelpí to a seat on the District of Puerto Rico vacated byHector M. Laffitte, who assumedsenior status on November 15, 2005. Gelpí was confirmed byvoice vote on July 20, 2006, and received his judicial commission on August 1, 2006.[3] He served as Chief Judge from April 13, 2018, to October 20, 2021.[4] His service as a district court judge was terminated on October 20, 2021, when he was elevated to the court of appeals.[3]
In 2013, Gelpi began serving a term as the president of theFederal Bar Association.[5]
On May 12, 2021, PresidentJoe Biden nominated Gelpí to be aUnited States circuit judge for theFirst Circuit,[6][7] to the seat vacated by JudgeJuan R. Torruella, who died on October 26, 2020.[8] On June 23, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[9] During his confirmation hearing, Republican senators criticized Gelpí over his critique of theinsular cases that established Puerto Rico's rights.[10] On July 22, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote.[11] On October 7, 2021, Majority LeaderChuck Schumer filedcloture on his nomination.[12] Later that day, theUnited States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 54–39 vote.[13] On October 18, 2021, Gelpí was confirmed by a 52–41 vote.[14] He received his judicial commission on October 19, 2021.[3] He is the second judge of Hispanic origin to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the second judge from Puerto Rico ever to sit on the First Circuit.[15]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico 2006–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit 2021–present | Incumbent |