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Juan Torruella

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Juan Torruella

Nonpartisan

Prior offices:

United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit

Years in office: 1984 - 2020

United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico

Years in office: 1974 - 1984

Education

Bachelor's

University of Pennsylvania, 1954

Law

Boston University School of Law, 1957

Graduate

University of Virginia School of Law, 1984

Personal

Birthplace

San Juan, PR

Juan R. Torruella was afederal judge on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. He joined the court in 1984 after being nominated by PresidentRonald Reagan (R). His service ended on October 26, 2020, when he died. Torruella served aschief judge of the 1st Circuit from 1994 to 2001.

Before his nomination to the 1st Circuit, Torruella was a district judge for theUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. He joined the district court in 1974 upon his nomination by PresidentGerald 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 hisJ.D. in 1957. He went on to graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law with hisLL.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

1984-2020: Judge,United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit
- 1994-2001: Chief judge
1974-1984: Judge,United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
- 1982-1984: Chief judge
1959-1974: Private practice,Puerto Rico^[1]

Judicial career

First Circuit Court of Appeals

Nomination Tracker

Nominee Information
Name: Juan R. Torruella del Valle
Court:United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit
Progress
Confirmed 64 days after nomination.
ANominated: August 1, 1984
AABA Rating:
Questionnaire:
AHearing: August 8, 1984

QFRs:(Hover over QFRs to read more)

AReported: September 20, 1984
AConfirmed: October 4, 1984

Torruella was nominated by PresidentRonald Reagan (R) on August 1, 1984, to a new seat created on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit created by 98 Stat. 333. Hearings on Torruella's nomination were held before theUnited 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 theU.S. Senate on October 4, 1984, and he received his commission the same day. Torruella served aschief 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 theUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico by PresidentGerald Ford on November 18, 1974, to a seat vacated by JudgeHiram Cancio. Torruella was confirmed by the Senate on December 18, 1974, and he received his commission onDecember 20, 1974. Torruella served aschief judge of the court from 1982 to 1984. He resigned from the district court onOctober 30, 1984, upon his elevation to theFirst Circuit.^[1] Torruella was succeeded in this position by JudgeJose 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 inNoonan 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]

External links

Footnotes

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