reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 6 - System to Evaluate Candidates for Judges and Judgeship (§§ 71 — 74c) › Subchapter IV - General Provisions (§§ 74 — 74c) › § 74a - Confidentiality; misdemeanor

The entire evaluation process of the bodies created by this chapter for judges and judge candidates shall be subject to norms of strict confidentiality, as well as any information compiled and the documents and reports produced as a result thereof. Any official or employee of the bodies created hereby shall state under oath that he/she will not disclose the confidential information obtained as a part of his/her functions. Any person, employee or public official, whether from the Executive, Legislative or Judiciary Branch, who deliberately or because of negligence or omission, makes public or offers confidential information whose disclosure is not authorized by this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any member, official or employee of the Governor’s Evaluating Committee for Judiciary Appointments or the Judiciary Evaluation Office or the Judiciary Appointments Office, who requests or provides information regarding the past or present political beliefs, affiliation or promotion in the judicature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, with the intention of discriminating against the candidate because of his/her political affiliation, shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Only the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court Associate Justices, the Administrative Director of the Office of Courts Administration, and by mediation of the latter, the Director of the Judiciary Studies Institute shall have access to the Commission, in what corresponds to the development of judiciary education programs and activities. What is provided above shall be no hindrance for the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or their authorized representatives, to be able to visit, once a year, within the thirty (30) days that follow the request from one of them, the Commission’s offices jointly, to evaluate its operation and the implementation of the judiciary evaluation process, including the inspection of those documents and files that will expedite said procedure.
Only its own members, the Executive Director, his/her personnel and the Governor, shall have access to the information and documentation thereof in the evaluation process carried out by the Evaluating Committee.
Notwithstanding the above provisions, any letters of recommendation that are remitted to the Governor by the various evaluating bodies as a part of the process of appointment, renomination and promotion of judges shall be accessible to the public. Equally accessible to the public, shall be any evaluation report of a judge, provided the evaluated judge expressly authorizes its disclosure.
History —Dec. 5, 1991, No. 91, § 21.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 6 - System to Evaluate Candidates for Judges and Judgeship (§§ 71 — 74c) › Subchapter IV - General Provisions (§§ 74 — 74c) › § 74b - Saving clause

This chapter shall not affect the constitutional power of the Governor to make appointments without being subject to the provisions herein, nor the constitutional power of the Senate to advise and consent, and its investigative powers.
History —Dec. 5, 1991, No. 91, § 22.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 233 - Creation

There is hereby created a Retirement System for the Judiciary of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to be administered pursuant to the provisions of §§ 233—246 of this title, the purpose of which is to establish an efficient and economically sound means of providing pensions and other benefits through the setting up of a system under which the judges of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico accumulate reserves for their old age, disability, separation from the service, or death. The system so created shall be known as the Puerto Rico Judiciary Retirement System.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, § 1, retroactive to July 1, 1954.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 235 - Membership

Every person who on the operative date of the System holds a position as judge and every person who from and after the operative date of the System holds a position as judge, shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 233—246 of this title.
The participation of any judge in the Retirement System shall continue throughout the entire time that he is in active service or receiving a retirement pension. Participation shall also continue throughout any period during which a judge renders services in the United States Armed Forces while the United States is at war or in a state of emergency declared by the President or the Congress, provided that this officer returns to the service of the government as judge within the 90 days following his honorable discharge and pays into the System the contributions corresponding to the time he spent in the Armed Forces, along with the corresponding interest. Such contribution shall be on the basis of the salary he was receiving on the date he was mustered into the Armed Forces.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, § 3, retroactive to July 1, 1954.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 236b - Periodic increase; 1999

Commencing on January 1, 1999, and subsequently, every three (3) years, there shall be a three percent (3%) increase in all annuities to be paid under §§ 233 et seq. of this title, that are in effect on that date and which have been received for at three (3) years prior to said date. The triennial increase in years following 1999 shall apply to all annuities paid under §§ 233 et seq. of this title, for age, years of service or disability, that are in effect on January 1 of the year the increase is granted and that have been received for at least three (3) years, provided there is a prior favorable recommendation of the Actuary of the system. If in any year the system has reserves for only twenty-four (24) months or less, no increase shall be granted. The amount provided herein, and that of subsequent years, shall be defrayed by the Courts Administration.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, added as § 4(b) on Dec. 20, 1997, No. 177, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 236c - Period increase; 2002

Effective January 1, 2001, and subsequently every three (3) years, the annuities paid pursuant to §§ 233 et seq. of this title, for age, years of service or disability that are in effect on that date and received for at least three (3) years, are hereby granted a three percent (3%) increase.
The Retirement System for the Judiciary shall cover the impact of this raise during the 2001-2002 fiscal year. The cost entailed by the increase in the pensions of former judges during those years shall be consigned in the budget of the 2002-2003 fiscal year and shall be reimbursed to the Retirement System for the Judiciary. To such effect, the Employees Retirement System Administration of the Government and the Judiciary shall certify said cost to the Management and Budget Office for it to be taken into account when drafting the budget. As of the 2002-2003 fiscal year, the funds to cover said increase shall be consigned in the general budget of expenses of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —June 13, 2001, No. 41, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 236d - Computation of average compensation for new participants

The average compensation for new participants who enrolled for the first time in the System after July 1, 2014, shall be computed on the basis of the average salary of the participant during the last five (5) years of service. This five (5)-year period shall be the base period.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, added as § 4–C on Dec. 24, 2013, No. 162, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 236e - Annuities for new participants

(a) Annuity for years of service. —Employees who enrolled for the first time in the System after July 1, 2014 and are Hybrid Program participants may retire after the date on which they reach the age of sixty-five (65), have completed at least twelve (12) years of service as a judge, and have not requested or received a refund of accumulated contributions. The amount of the annuity to be received by Hybrid Program participants upon retirement shall be one point five percent (1.5%) of his/her average compensation multiplied by the number of years of credited services as a judge of the General Court of Justice.
(b) Early retirement annuity.— Employees who enrolled in the System for the first time after July 1, 2014, and separate from service after the date on which they reach the age of fifty-five (55) but before they reach the age of sixty-five (65), and have completed at least twelve (12) years of service as a judge shall be entitled to receive the annuity for years of service provided in subsection (a) of this section with an actuarial reduction which shall be computed based on the Actuarial Guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees.
(c) Deferred retirement annuity.— Employees who enrolled in the System for the first time after July 1, 2014, and separate from service before reaching the age of sixty-five (65), and have completed at least twelve (12) years of service as a judge, and have not requested or received a refund of accumulated contributions shall be entitled to a deferred retirement annuity upon reaching the age of sixty-five (65). Such annuity shall be computed in accordance with the formula established in subsection (a) of this section.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, added as § 4–D on Dec. 24, 2013, No. 162, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 237 - Reversionary annuities

On reaching minimum retirement age, every participant may elect to receive a retirement pension lower than that which he is entitled to on the basis of his total accumulated service credits up to that date and to provide an annuity for his widow with the remainder of his equity as actuarially determined upon his demise. Under this option, the sum of the pensions payable to the participant and to his widow shall be equal to the actuarial equivalent of the retirement pension which the participant was entitled to before electing such option. This option shall be inoperative if the participant dies within the year following the date on which he made such decision.
The annuity provided for the widow shall be paid upon the death of the participant. Whenever a reversionary annuity is provided, no death benefit shall be paid. If the option has been to provide a reversionary annuity and the death of the wife occurs before the participant has retired, the said option shall be automatically terminated. If the participant remarries he may file a new reversionary annuity, but same must be filed before the date of his retirement. The reduced retirement annuity which the participant may have elected for himself after providing a reversionary annuity may in no wise be changed if the wife dies after the participant has retired. If the participant dies within the 30 days following the date of his retirement and he has not provided for a reversionary annuity, he shall be considered as having died in active service and the regular death benefits provided by law shall be paid.
No reversionary annuity resulting from the exercise of this privilege shall amount to less than one hundred and twenty dollars ($120) a year, nor shall the amount of said annuity exceed the amount of the reduced annuity payable to the participant in accordance with his option.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, § 5, retroactive to July 1, 1954.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 239 - Refunds

Any participant who enrolled for the first time in the System on or before June 30, 2014, shall receive a refund of his/her contributions to the System, including interest thereon, upon his/her separation from service if such participant so requests and is not eligible for a retirement or disability pension. Every participant receiving a refund shall thereby forfeit and be understood as waiving all vested rights and credited service in the System. If such person is subsequently reemployed in the Judicial Branch of Puerto Rico, he/she shall become a participant of the Hybrid Program defined in § 234 of this title as if he/she has entered the Judicial Branch for the first time after July 1, 2014.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, § 7, retroactive to July 1, 1954; Dec. 24, 2013, No. 162, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 240a - Pension for the surviving spouse and children

(A) In case of a retired participant.— When a participant of the Puerto Rico Judiciary Retirement System dies while receiving a retirement or disability annuity from said System, the surviving spouse and unemancipated children under twenty-one (21) years of age, or who are physically or mentally disabled, shall be entitled to sixty percent (60%) of the annuity received by the retired participant at the time of his death, pursuant to the provisions of § 788a of Title 3.
(B) In the case of an active participant entitled to a pension.— If at the time of his/her death, the participant had acquired the right to receive any type of retirement pension under § 233 et seq. of this title, the surviving spouse and unemancipated children under twenty-one (21) years of age, or disabled children, shall be entitled to sixty percent (60%) of the pension that the deceased participant would have received if he/she had been retired at that time. The requirements of § 788a of Title 3 shall apply in these cases.
(C) In order to defray the cost of the benefit granted by this section, the Retirement Systems are hereby authorized to increase the contribution of the participants provided in § 242 of this title by one fourth of one percent (0.25%) upon the effectiveness of this act.
(D) Hybrid Program participants shall be excluded from the benefits granted under this section and the contribution provided in subsection (C). Such participants may choose to avail themselves of an annuity by transfer as provided in § 237 of this title.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, added as § 8-A on Jan. 4, 1983, No. 2, p. 373, § 1; Dec. 8, 1989, No. 22, p. 587; Dec. 24, 2013, No. 162, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 241a - Provisions to expedite the processes

The Courts Administration Office shall submit all required documents to the Retirement Systems Administration within the thirty (30) days following the date of any application for retirement benefits or liquidation of funds. The System shall process the application for benefits or liquidation of funds within the thirty (30) days following the date of filling of the application with the required documents, as required by the Retirement System.
If the Courts Administration Office fails to comply with the obligation established in this section, it shall be responsible for paying the participant an amount equal to the monthly salary he/she received on the date of the application for retirement benefits or liquidation of funds.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, added as § 9-A on Aug. 26, 2005, No. 94, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 242 - Finances

The contribution of every Retirement System participant shall be nine point five percent (9.5%) percent of his/her compensation as of the operative date of the System or as of the date he/she became a judge if his/her appointment is subsequent thereto. The participant shall continue making such contribution for as long as he/she is in active service, regardless of whether or not he/she has accumulated enough credits to assure him/her the maximum retirement pension provided by §§ 233–246 of this title.
The contribution of every participant who enrolls for the first time in the System after July 1, 2014 shall be twelve percent (12%) of his/her compensation. The participant shall continue making such contribution for as long as he/she serves as a judge. Upon retirement, these participants shall be entitled to receive an annuity computed as provided in §§ 236c and 236d of this title, as well as an annuity on the basis of the defined contribution as provided in § 242a of this title.
The Government shall contribute to the System such amounts as, together with the contributions of the participants, interest on investments, and any other income deriving to the System, are necessary for meeting the maintenance and administration costs of the System.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, § 10, retroactive to July 1, 1954; Dec. 24, 2013, No. 162, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 242a - Establishment of contribution accounts for the Hybrid Program of the New Judiciary Retirement System of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

The Administrator shall establish and maintain in the System an account with the individual and employer contributions of each participant who enrolls in the System after July 1, 2014 and is a Hybrid Program participant. Such account shall be credited and debited in accordance with § 242 of this title.
The Courts Administration Office may make matching contributions to the System, at its discretion, from its budget appropriations and its own income for any fiscal year, in an amount that shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the contribution of each Hybrid Program participant while the participant is serving as a judge of the General Court of Justice. These contributions shall be deposited in the System to increase its level of assets, reduce its actuarial deficit, and strengthen its capacity to meet future obligations. These contributions shall be in addition to the corresponding employer contribution. The Administrator shall credit to the account of every Hybrid Program participant the following items:
(1) Contributions of Hybrid Program Participants.— Contributions made by the Hybrid Program Participant.
(2) Employer contributions.— Any matching contribution made by the Courts Administration Office, at its discretion, to the account of the any Hybrid Program participant.
(3) Return on investment.— The return on investment shall be credited at the close of each semester of each fiscal year. The return on investment shall be computed the last business day of each semester of the fiscal year on the average monthly balance of the contributions account of the Hybrid Program participant, during the semester in question. The return on investment shall be determined by the Board and shall never be less than eighty percent (80%) of the System’s portfolio net rate of return during each semester of each fiscal year, of the management fees such as, but not limited to, fees payable to portfolio managers, custody, and investment advice. Hybrid Program participants shall always be entitled to at least one hundred percent (100%) of their contributions to the Hybrid Program account.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, added as § 10–A on Dec. 24, 2013, No. 162, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 243 - Members of employees retirement system

On July 1, 1954, all judges who are members of the Employees Retirement System of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall cease as such and automatically become participants in this System, with all the rights and subject to all the conditions and obligations attaching to membership in same. The contributions made by such participants to the Employees Retirement System of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including interest up to the said date, shall be transferred to the System created by §§ 233—246 of this title and credited to the respective accounts of the participants for the use and purposes set forth in the provisions of said sections. The Administrator is hereby authorized to accept the said funds.
The amounts so transferred from the Employees Retirement System of the Government of Puerto Rico and its instrumentalities may be reimbursed to said System if the participant has not served as a judge for the last eight (8) years of service preceding his resignation or retirement by reason of age or disability, in order to obtain credit for the years served to the Government in any capacity other than as a judge, as provided in § 234 of this title. The amounts reimbursed shall include interest earned up to the date of the reimbursement. After said reimbursement is made, the provisions of Act No. 59 of June 11, 1953, shall apply. The obtainment of service credits for retirement purposes in the Employees Retirement System of the Government of Puerto Rico and its instrumentalities shall be governed by the provisions of §§ 761—788 of Title 3, and their regulations.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, § 11; Apr. 30, 1956, No. 14, p. 38, retroactive to July 1, 1954.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 244 - Vested rights; statutory intent

Every participant shall, by reason of his contributions to the System, have a vested right in the refunds and the death benefits provided by §§ 233—246 of this title. By virtue of this vested right, it shall be taken for granted that every participant consents and agrees to having his contributions to the System herein created deducted from his salary. These contributions shall be made in the form of deductions from the salary of the employee; the Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico or any paymaster of an employer is hereby authorized to make the said deductions.
Payment to the participant of his salary less the deduction, together with his vested right to refund, shall constitute a total and complete discharge of any and all claims for services rendered during the period covered by said payment.
If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of §§ 233—246 of this title is declared null or unconstitutional, such declaration shall in no manner affect the other sections, sentences, clauses, or phrases of such sections, which shall remain as fully in force and effect as if the section, sentence, clause, or phrase so declared null or unconstitutional were not a part of such sections.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, § 12, retroactive to July 1, 1954.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 245 - Exemptions

The right to a retirement pension, disability pension, death benefit, refund, or any other benefit under the provisions of §§ 233—246 of this title, by whatever name known, is a personal right of the recipient thereof, and the assignment or transfer of said benefits or refunds, or of any part thereof, shall be null and void, except as provided by such sections. No such annuity, benefit, or refund may be claimed for the payment of debts contracted by the persons receiving same, except as otherwise provided herein. However, such amounts, including interest, as have been credited to a member of the System through contributions made in the form of salary deductions, may be assigned by the participant to provide security for any loan made by him from any fund, association, or other agency created by the Government for the purpose of making loans to its employees. The Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico may, through the pertinent judicial proceeding, withhold or attach such amounts for the repayment of any loan made by any such agency only in the event that the participant has permanently left government service without having made proper arrangements, suitable to such agency, for repayment of the said loan.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, § 13, retroactive to July 1, 1954.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART I - Organization of the Court (§§ 1-3 — 251) › Chapter 17 - Judicial Retirement (§§ 231 — 246) › § 246 - Appropriations

The appropriations carried in the Operating Budget of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for paying annuities granted prior to the date of effectiveness of this act to members of the Judiciary who may become a part of the System created by §§ 233—246 of this title, or to the beneficiaries thereof, shall be covered into the fund of the Judiciary Retirement System of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The System shall administer the said annuities.
In case there are no funds in the System for meeting the obligations thereof, payments shall be made chargeable to the general funds of the Treasury of Puerto Rico, and the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to the System the said sums as certified by the Administrator.
History —Oct. 19, 1954, No. 12, p. 152, § 15, retroactive to July 1, 1954.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 31 - General Court of Justice (§§ 301 — 311) › § 303a - Legal aid clinic cases, fees and costs

(a) With regard to all that may be related to the performance of their duties and attainment of their objectives, or necessary for the prosecution of such cases or matters in which the clinics might be intervening in behalf of the persons of limited economic resources to whom they might be giving free legal services, the persons so served are hereby exempted from the payment of all kinds of fees, tariffs, taxes or imposts of whatever nature prescribed by the laws in force for the prosecution of judicial proceedings and the issuance of certifications at all commonwealth government centers; Provided, That this shall not apply to such fees as may require cancellation for the execution of deeds before a notary public and their registration in the Property Registry.
(b) The persons for whom the legal assistance clinics of the law schools of Puerto Rico prosecute judicial actions before the courts shall be entitled to the services of the officials and employees and to all orders and decrees of said courts, as if the fees required by law had been paid.
(c) Every document issued for the legal assistance clinics of the law schools of Puerto Rico pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall have the same legal value as if the fees, tariffs, taxes or imposts required by law therefor had been paid.
(d) All judicial papers and petitions for certification of public documents, processed under this section, must be signed by an attorney of the legal assistance clinics of the law schools of Puerto Rico and bear the latter’s seal stamped thereon.
History —June 26, 1964, No. 81, p. 258, §§ 1—4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 31 - General Court of Justice (§§ 301 — 311) › § 305 - Court of First Instance law libraries

The law libraries of each part of the Court of First Instance shall be under the control of the judges of the respective parts, who may permit the officers of the court and members of the bar to consult the books in such libraries, under such regulations as they may prescribe: Provided, That no book shall be taken out of any library except by a judge of the court.
History —Mar. 1, 1906, p. 102, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 31 - General Court of Justice (§§ 301 — 311) › § 305a - Designation of buildings of the General Court of Justice

(a) To establish that it is the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to prohibit the designation of buildings and structures that house the General Court of Justice of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with the name of any person, whether dead or living.
(b) The three constitutional branches of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall take the necessary measures to prevent any act contrary to the public policy established in subsection (a) of this section.
History —Jan. 5, 2002, No. 13, §§ 1, 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 31 - General Court of Justice (§§ 301 — 311) › § 307 - Judicial Council—Members

A Judicial Council is hereby created composed of the following nine (9) members: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and an Associate Justice of the said Court, who shall be designated by the Chief Justice, the Secretary of Justice, a Court of First Instance Judge designated by the Secretary of Justice, the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary (Civil) and of the Committee on the Judiciary (Penal), of the Senate, the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary (Civil) and of the Committee on the Judiciary (Penal), of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Bar Association of Puerto Rico; Provided, That the law clerk of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall be the Executive Secretary of the Judicial Council.
History —May 5, 1939, No. 107, p. 554, § 1; Apr. 26, 1949, No. 108, § 1, p. 262.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 31 - General Court of Justice (§§ 301 — 311) › § 308 - Judicial Council—Chief Justice to preside; terms of members

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside over the Judicial Council. The members of the Council shall be such for the terms of their office, with the exception of the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Court of First Instance Judge, who shall hold office for the term of two (2) years or until their successors are designated.
History —May 5, 1939, No. 107, p. 554, § 2; Apr. 26, 1949, No. 108, p. 262, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 31 - General Court of Justice (§§ 301 — 311) › § 309 - Judicial Council—Study of judicial system; reports and recommendations

Said Judicial Council is created for the continuous study of the entire judicial system of Puerto Rico, of its organization and regulation, and of the advisability of establishing new methods of procedure and practice or of reorganizing the judicial system in any way, as well as to study the results of any legislation enacted for said purpose. On or before December 1 of each year, the council shall submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report on the work of the several dependencies of the judicial system, together with such recommendations as it may have to make in regard thereto, as well as any other special reports that may be requested by the Governor or by the Legislature. It may also, from time to time, present for the consideration of the judges of the different courts whatever it may deem advisable to suggest in regard to the rules of practice and procedure thereof.
History —May 5, 1939, No. 107, p. 554, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 31 - General Court of Justice (§§ 301 — 311) › § 310 - Judicial Council—Reports to judicial council

The secretaries and all other officials of the various courts of the Commonwealth shall submit to the Judicial Council such reports as the latter may request.
History —May 5, 1939, No. 107, p. 554, § 4; Apr. 26, 1949, No. 108, p. 262, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 31 - General Court of Justice (§§ 301 — 311) › § 311 - Judicial Council—No compensation for members; funds included in budget

No member of the said Council shall receive any compensation for his services. The amount that shall be deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 307—311 of this title shall be included in the general budget of expenses of the Commonwealth Government.
History —May 5, 1939, No. 107, p. 554, § 5; May 10, 1943, No. 63, p. 148, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 33 - Office of Court Administration (§§ 331-334 — 341) › § 335 - Oaths, witnesses, production of books

The Administrative Director or the official designated by him, the attorneys and auditors of the Office of the Courts Administration are hereby empowered to take oaths, summon witnesses and require the presentation of books, registers, documents and objects pertinent to the investigations carried out by them during the course of their official functions.
The sworn statements obtained under the provisions of §§ 335—340 of this title shall only be used for administrative purposes of the Courts Administration and shall not be used in criminal proceedings against those who gave them.
History —June 13, 1958, No. 36, p. 56, § 1; July 2, 1987, No. 80, p. 285, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 33 - Office of Court Administration (§§ 331-334 — 341) › § 336 - Oaths, witnesses, production of books—Penalty for failure to appear or produce books

Any person who, without lawful cause, fails to appear, upon being summoned by any of the officials mentioned in § 335 of this title, or who refuses to give testimony or to produce the books, registers, documents or objects required of him shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction by the Court of First Instance, be punished by a maximum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for a maximum term of one (1) year.
History —June 13, 1958, No. 36, p. 56, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 33 - Office of Court Administration (§§ 331-334 — 341) › § 337 - Oaths, witnesses, production of books—Summons

Every summons issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 335—340 of this title shall bear the seal of the Office of Court Administration and notice thereof may be served anywhere in the Commonwealth.
History —June 13, 1958, No. 36, p. 56, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 33 - Office of Court Administration (§§ 331-334 — 341) › § 338 - Oaths, witnesses, production of books—Order to appear or produce books

In addition to and regardless of the provisions of § 336 of this title, and whenever without lawful cause a witness who has been duly summoned does not appear to give testimony or does not produce the books, registers, documents or objects, as required of him, or whenever any witness who has been duly summoned refuses to answer any question with regard to any matter under investigation by the Office of Court Administration, the Administrative Director thereof may apply to the Court of First Instance for an order to the witness to appear and give testimony and produce and surrender the books, registers, documents or objects required of him. The Secretary of Justice shall, whenever so required by the Administrative Director of the Courts, represent the latter in such proceedings.
History —June 13, 1958, No. 36, p. 56, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 33 - Office of Court Administration (§§ 331-334 — 341) › § 339 - Oaths, witnesses, production of books—Court summons; contempt

The court shall, upon the filing of the petition referred to in § 338 of this title, issue a summons requiring and directing the witness to appear and testify or to produce the evidence required of him, or both, before the proper official of the Office of Court Administration, and any disobedience of the order issued by the court shall be punished as contempt.
History —June 13, 1958, No. 36, p. 56, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 33 - Office of Court Administration (§§ 331-334 — 341) › § 340 - Oaths, witnesses, production of books—Honoraria

Every person who has been summoned and appears as witness pursuant to the §§ 335—340 shall receive for each day he so appears a sum equal to such as is received by witnesses appearing before the courts of justice.
History —June 13, 1958, No. 36, p. 56, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 33 - Office of Court Administration (§§ 331-334 — 341) › § 341 - Documents and legible signatures

The Administrative Director of the Office of Court Administration is hereby empowered to establish, upon consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the corresponding procedure so that documents signed by a judge on petition, or in the discharge of his ministerial duties, be written and signed legibly; Provided, That under the signature of the judge his full name must appear typewritten or handwritten in printing type.
History —July 27, 1974, No. 253, Part 2, p. 254, § 1, eff. 60 days after July 27, 1974.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter I - Personnel of General Court of Justice (§§ 361 — 368) › § 363 - Inactive balances in bank accounts of secretaries and marshals—Transfer to special deposit account

It is hereby established that all the balances that remained without any movement for a period of five (5) years or more in the bank accounts of clerks, bailiffs or those officers or employees appointed by the Administrative Director of Courts to perform collection duties in the divisions forming the Puerto Rico Court of First Instance, and whose owners, heirs or claimants, or [their] whereabouts were unknown, shall be transferred to a special deposit account in the books of the Department of the Treasury Accounting Service, previous to sending the respective funds or values to the Secretary of the Treasury by the clerks, bailiffs, or other personnel exercising collection duties, under whose charge such balances were; Provided, That all that shall be carried out following orders or resolutions issued by the respective court and previous publication of the corresponding edicts.
History —May 26, 1954, No. 38, p. 208, § 1; Jan. 8, 2004, No. 3, § 9, eff. 30 days after Jan. 8, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter I - Personnel of General Court of Justice (§§ 361 — 368) › § 364 - Inactive balances in bank accounts of secretaries and marshals—Transfer to general fund; payment of claims

The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to promulgate rules and regulations for complying with the provisions of §§ 363 and 364 of this title and to provide the procedure for transferring to the General Fund of the Treasury the balances mentioned in § 363 of this title; Provided, That both the transfer of said balances and any disbursements to be made as a result of claims arising in relation thereto, shall in each case be made upon order of the competent court and shall be effectuated in conformity with the provisions of Act No. 409, approved May 13, 1947.
History —May 26, 1954, No. 38, p. 208, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter I - Personnel of General Court of Justice (§§ 361 — 368) › § 366 - Assistant Marshals in labor protection cases—Designation of Department of Labor and Human Resources employees

The Court Administrator is hereby authorized to designate, on request of the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources, one or more officers or employees of the Department of Labor and Human Resources to act as assistant marshals in the serving of notices and in the execution of judgments in those cases instituted in court by lawyers of the Department of Labor and Human Resources to enforce labor protecting laws. The Secretary of Labor and Human Resources shall previously notify the Judge Administrator and the regular marshal of the corresponding part of the Court of First Instance of the name of the assistant marshal who will intervene in each case. In the discharge of the aforesaid functions those assistant marshals designated under §§ 366—368 of this title shall have the same powers and obligations as the assistant marshals of the former Superior Court and the District Court, as the case may be, including the power to serve notices, orders of attachment and executions of judgments; to attach and sell personal and real property of the debtors in said judgments; to advertise the auction, make the notifications and execute the deeds of conveyance, draw up the minutes and the certificates of the serving of notices, and other instruments pertinent in these cases, and to do any other thing usually done by the marshals of the former Superior Court and the District Court in cases of this nature.
History —July 12, 1960, No. 112, p. 315, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter I - Personnel of General Court of Justice (§§ 361 — 368) › § 367 - Assistant Marshals in labor protection cases—Attachment of property for execution of judgments

Any attachment of property for the execution of judgments, to which §§ 366—368 of this title refer, may be done by the marshals of the Court of First Instance or by the assistant marshals designated under such sections, with or without seizure of said property, it being sufficient to notify the debtor of the properties attached by giving him a written account thereof and notifying him that he may not alienate, encumber, alter, remove or in any other way dispose of them until otherwise provided by the court.
History —July 12, 1960, No. 112, p. 315, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter I - Personnel of General Court of Justice (§§ 361 — 368) › § 367a - Assistant Marshals in labor protection cases—Penalties

Any person who alienates, encumbers, alters, removes or in any other way disposes of, with the purpose of evading compliance with §§ 366—368 of this title and without authorization of the court, property attached without seizure in virtue thereof, shall incur in a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) or by imprisonment in jail for a term of not less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years or by both penalties in the discretion of the court.
History —July 12, 1960, No. 112, added as § 2-A on June 21, 1968, No. 110, p. 226, § 1 eff. 90 days after June 21, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter I - Personnel of General Court of Justice (§§ 361 — 368) › § 368 - Assistant Marshals in labor protection cases—Official bonds

The assistant marshals designated under the provisions of §§ 366—368 of this title, before entering upon the discharge of their functions, shall give an official bond [on] behalf of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for such amount as the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources may fix; Provided, That the corresponding premiums of said bond shall be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico chargeable to the appropriation for the payment of bond premiums of the employees of the Commonwealth provided yearly by the Legislature in the budget of the Department of the Treasury. Said bond shall be approved by the Secretary of Justice as to form and execution, and by the Secretary of the Treasury as to the solvency of the surety.
History —July 12, 1960, No. 112, p. 315, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter II - Personnel of Supreme Court (§§ 381 — 383) › § 382 - Law clerks for Supreme Court justices

(a) The Chief Justice and each one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico are hereby authorized to appoint a law clerk at an annual salary of not less than four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) for the law clerks of the Associate Justices, and six thousand dollars ($6,000) for the law clerk of the Chief Justice; Provided, That the law clerk of the latter shall also be the Executive Secretary of the Judicial Council of Puerto Rico.
(b) The salaries of the law clerks of the respective Justices shall be annually included in the general budget of expenses of the Government corresponding to the Supreme Court.
History —May 6, 1949, No. 189, p. 598, §§ 1, 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter III - Personnel of Former Superior Court (§§ 391 — 431) › § 392 - Secretaries—Duties

Each secretary of the Court of First Instance must perform such duties as are prescribed in the Code of Civil Procedure and in the Penal Code and such duties as may be required of him by the rules and practice of the court.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 118, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter III - Personnel of Former Superior Court (§§ 391 — 431) › § 393 - Secretaries—Office at courthouse; attendance at court

The office of the secretary shall be at the courthouse, and he must in person or by deputy attend every session of the part of the Court of First Instance to which he is assigned.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 118, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR - Judiciary (§§ 1-3 — 2166) › PART II - Court Administration (§§ 301 — 536h) › Chapter 35 - Personnel (§§ 361 — 446) › Subchapter III - Personnel of Former Superior Court (§§ 391 — 431) › § 394 - Secretaries—Official bonds

The Clerk of the Supreme Court, the Clerk of the Appellate Circuit Court, all the Clerks of the Courts of First Instance, all the Deputy Clerks or those officers or employees appointed by the Administrative Director of Courts to perform collection duties, shall be covered by that bond established in favor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to respond to the faithful discharge of duties in their work.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 118, § 3; Apr. 23, 1927, No. 27, p. 168; Apr. 18, 1950, No. 56, p. 146, § 1; Jan. 8, 2004, No. 3, § 2, eff. 30 days after Jan. 8, 2004.