reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › Appendix II-A - Rules of Administration for the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico › Rule 15 - Judicial records and books which the Clerk should keep

(a) Judicial records under the custody of the Clerk shall not be taken out of their respective parts except by a written order from the Administrative Judge. They shall not be taken out of the office of the Clerk either, except for the use of the court, or the judges. The Clerk shall keep the necessary registers to reveal the true situation of any particular record at any time.
This rule shall apply to the court stenographer’s notebooks, the stenotype and magnetiphonic tapes [o]n which the hearings of the cases in the part have been taken.
(b) The Clerks of the courts shall keep all the books required by law. The Clerks are empowered to make the minute book by collecting and binding the original of the minutes according to the rules fixed by the Administrative Director of the Courts with the approval of the Chief Justice.
(c) In the municipalities where a part of the District Court has not been established and where a municipal judge has been assigned to render services, a docket of criminal cases shall be kept where the secretary of the municipal judge shall file the cases authorized by law regarding which the said magistrate receives pleas of guilty and imposes sentences.
(d) When one or several of the documents which make up a record is lost or destroyed, or when the record itself is lost or destroyed, the Clerk shall notify the Administrative Judge within the next 24 working hours from the moment in which he learns of said loss. The Administrative Judge shall take the necessary steps to locate the document or record; Provided, That, if during the next 48 working hours all efforts prove unsuccessful, the parties shall be summoned to a hearing to be held no later than ten (10) days thereafter. At said hearing, the lost document will be substituted or the whole record reconstructed, as the case may be. The hearing shall be held before the judge who has been assigned the case or, in default thereof, before the Administrative Judge.
In the event the record lost or destroyed is an inactive one deposited in the Central Archives of the Judicial Branch, the Director of the Program for the Preservation and Disposal of Documents of the Judicial Branch shall prepare a report to the Administrative Director of the Courts certifying said loss pursuant to the Rules for the Administration of said program. Should it be necessary, the Administrative Judge of the pertinent court division shall substitute the lost document or reconstruct the whole record, as the case may be, following the foregoing procedure and bearing in mind the provisions contained in the Rules for the Administration of the Program for the Preservation and Disposal of Documents of the Judicial Branch.
History —May 23, 1975; Dec. 17, 1975; Sept. 22, 1977.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › Appendix II-A - Rules of Administration for the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico › Rule 16 - Reports

(a) The judges of the Court of First Instance, of the municipal courts, and the justices of the peace shall forward on the first day of each month to the administrative judges of the corresponding parts, on the forms supplied by the Office of Court Administration, a report of the work performed [i]n the preceding month and any other related information required on said form. Said reports will allow administrative judges to orient their decisions regarding calendars and other administrative matters of their respective courts’ divisions.
(b) On the first day of each month the clerks, marshals, stenographers, and deputy clerk-transcribers of the Court of First Instance shall send to the corresponding administrative judges, on the forms supplied by the Office of Court Administration, a report on the work performed [i]n the previous month.
(c) Every Monday the judges of the Court of First Instance, the judges of the municipal courts, and the justices of the peace shall forward to the Administrative Director, pursuant to § 892a of this title, the Report on the Index of Affidavits or Authorized Statements, setting forth the work performed with regard to this matter during the previous week.
History —May 23, 1975; Apr. 26, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › Appendix II-A - Rules of Administration for the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico › Rule 16.1 - Term of sessions of the Court of First Instance

The Court of First Instance shall sit during a term which shall commence on the first day of August of each year or on the first workday after such date, and shall extend until the following June fifteenth.
During its corresponding vacation term the Court of First Instance shall continue functioning through one or more acting judges [o]n vacation designated by the Chief Justice. The acting judges [o]n vacation shall be entitled to their leave in a manner compatible with the needs of the service. The vacations of the judges who are not acting judges [o]n vacation during the vacation term of the court shall be charged against their regular vacation leave.
History —May 23, 1975, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › Appendix II-A - Rules of Administration for the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico › Rule 17 - Leaves of absence

The Administrative Director of the Courts shall prepare annually a vacation schedule for the judges according to the needs of the service.
At the beginning of each natural year the Administrative Judge will determine the dates when the other officers and employees of his part shall enjoy their annual vacation leave during the course of the year in the manner most compatible with the needs of the service, and he shall submit a vacation schedule to the Administrative Director of the Courts.
All other aspects concerning vacation and sick leaves of judges and other officers and employees of the Court of First Instance shall be governed by the Rules of Administration of the Personnel System for the Judicial Branch of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and by the Regulations of the Administration of the Personnel System for the Judicial Branch of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico approved on August 30, 1974.
History —May 23, 1975; Nov. 7, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › Appendix II-A - Rules of Administration for the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico › Rule 18 - Nonjuridical functions of the judges

The Chief Justice shall provide the rules which shall govern all the aspects of all nonjuridical functions assigned by law to the judges.
History —May 23, 1975, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › Appendix II-A - Rules of Administration for the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico › Rule 19 - Supplemental provisions

The Administrative Judge of each part shall issue the orders and rules as are necessary for a better administrative functioning of that part in all matters not provided for in these rules or in any other applicable rules and regulations.
In any matter in connection with the administration of personnel of the Court of First Instance these rules shall be considered supplemental to the Rules and to the Regulation of Administration of the Personnel System of the Judicial Branch.
History —May 23, 1975, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › Appendix II-A - Rules of Administration for the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico › Rule 20 - Applicability of these rules to the municipal judges and to the justices of the peace

These rules shall apply to the municipal judges and justices of the peace insofar as compatible with their functions.
History —May 23, 1975, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › Appendix II-A - Rules of Administration for the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico › Rule 21 - Delegation

The Chief Justice may delegate to the Administrative Director of the Courts any of the powers and duties of his administrative function entrusted to him by these rules.
The Administrative Judge may delegate to one or more of the judges of his part any of his powers and duties except those which because of their nature are not delegable.
History —May 23, 1975, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › Appendix II-A - Rules of Administration for the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico › Rule 22 - Effective date

Except for Rule 2.2 which shall take effect immediately, these rules shall take effect on September 1, 1975, and once in effect they shall repeal the rules formerly approved by this Court on December 12, 1960 [App. II of this title].
History —May 23, 1975, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 1 - Applicability

These rules are adopted by the Supreme Court pursuant to § 19 of the Judiciary Act, Act No. 11 of July 14, 1952, as amended, § 122 of this title. They shall govern all appeals from the District Court to the Court of First Instance, both in civil and criminal cases.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 2 - Recording of proceedings

Unless at the commencement of or during the course of a trial the parties waive their right to have the proceeding recorded, the judge presiding at the hearing shall order the recording of all the proceedings. The recording shall be kept by the Clerk of the Court for the purposes provided in these rules.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 3 - Notes of district judge to approve summary of testimony

The judge presiding at the hearing of a case shall take the notes he deems necessary, summarizing the testimonies of the witnesses and all the incidents of the case for the purpose of approving the statement of the case or the narrative statement of the evidence when needed for an appeal before the Court of First Instance.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 4 - How appeal is taken

The appeal shall be perfected by filing a notice of appeal with the Clerk of the District Court that entered the judgment and a copy of the same with the Clerk of the Court of First Instance where appeal is taken within the term prescribed and by serving notice on all the parties pursuant to the Rules of Civil Procedure, App. III of Title 32, or to the Rules of Criminal Procedure, App II of Title 34, as the case may be. If the notice of appeal is not filed and served in the manner and within the terms provided above, the appeal shall be dismissed by the Court of First Instance motu proprio or on motion of party.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 5 - Notice of appeal

(a) In civil cases. — The notice of appeal in civil cases shall contain the following:
(1) A reference to the judgment appealed, including the name of the same parties that appeared before the District Court, adding in the appropriate places the designations “appellant” and “appellee”, and the number of the case, the court that rendered judgment, the date on which it was rendered, the date when a copy of the notice of judgment was filed in the record, and the filing date of any motion which could interrupt the term for appeal, if there is any, as well as the date when the same was decided, and the part of the Court of First Instance where appeal is taken.
(2) A faithful and concise relation of the facts pertinent to the case.
(3) An assignment of the errors which, in the appellant’s opinion, were committed by the District Court.
(4) The argument of the errors assigned, including the citation and analysis of the pertinent legal authorities.
If appellant does not strictly comply with the aforementioned requisites, the Court of First Instance shall dismiss the appeal upon the request of a party or motu proprio.
(b) In criminal cases. — The notice of appeal in criminal cases shall contain the following:
(1) The name or names of the defendant-appellant, adding in the appropriate places the designations “appellant” and “appellee”, the judgment against which appeal is taken, the date when the judgment was entered, the filing date of any motion that could interrupt the term for appeal, if any, as well as the date when the same was decided, and the part of the Court of First Instance where appeal is taken.
(2) Information on whether the defendant was free on bail or on pretrial release at the time of his conviction and at the time of the filing of the notice of appeal.
(3) A brief assignment of the errors allegedly committed by the District Court.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 6 - Statement of the case or narrative statement of the evidence; transcript of evidence

(a) The appellant shall prepare a narrative statement of the oral evidence or a written relation of all the incidents in the case within twenty (20) days following the filing of the notice of appeal, except when a transcript of evidence is authorized as provided hereinbelow. Said statements or relations shall be served on the appellee, who shall present his objections or proposed amendments within the ten (10) days following service of notice. The narrative statement or relation, with the objections or proposed amendments, shall be immediately submitted to the judge for his decision and approval, which statement or relation shall be decided and approved within a term of ten (10) days and the Clerk of the Court shall include them, after decision and approval, in the record on appeal. If the judge is not in agreement with the statement or relation of the case, he shall submit the pertinent amendments to the parties, who shall have ten (10) days to object to the amendments submitted by the judge. If objection is made to the amendments, the judge shall set a hearing within ten (10) days to discuss the same. If there is no objection to the amendments made by the judge within said term, they shall be made part of the narrative statement or of the relation of the case.
(b) If the appellant feels there is a need for a transcript of the oral evidence presented before the District Court, he shall file a motion to that effect with the Court of First Instance within five (5) days after the appeal is filed, justifying the need thereof in the light of the errors assigned in the notice of appeal and making reference to the contents of the specific testimonies that he intends to use. After considering said motion, the Court of First Instance shall order whatever is proper at law according to the circumstances of the case, either denying the request or ordering a total or partial transcript of the evidence. The same procedure established in paragraph (a) above regarding the narrative statement or the relation of the case shall be followed in cases where the Court of First Instance orders a transcript prepared, except that it shall be prepared by the corresponding court reporter or transcriber, once the appellant pays the fees provided by law.
If the preparation of a partial or total transcript of the evidence takes more than forty-five (45) days without just cause, a narrative statement of the evidence shall be prepared instead of the transcript, pursuant to the provisions of this rule.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 7 - Notice of the filing of record on appeal

The Clerk of the Court of First Instance shall promptly serve notice on the parties of the filing of the record on appeal.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 8 - Briefs

(a) Civil cases. — In civil cases, the notice of appeal containing the assignments of error and the arguments shall constitute appellant’s brief and a supplementary one shall not be allowed except for just cause and with the leave of the Court of First Instance. Assignments of error omitted from the notice of appeal shall not be considered. Within twenty (20) days after the parties are notified of the filing of the record on appeal, appellee shall present to the Court of First Instance his brief in the case, serving notice to all the parties, arguing each one of the errors assigned by the appellant in his notice of appeal.
(b) Criminal cases. — In criminal cases, the appellant shall present a brief to the Court of First Instance within twenty (20) days after notice is served on the parties of the filing of the record on appeal arguing the assignment of errors contained in the notice of appeal. Appellee shall present his brief within twenty (20) days after notice is served of the filing of appellant’s brief.
A motion to dismiss the case shall not suspend the terms for the filing of appellee’s brief.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 9 - Hearing for oral argument

Within five (5) days after appellee’s brief is filed, or after the term therefore elapses and the same has not been filed, any of the parties may request in writing that the case be set for a hearing for oral argument. The Court of First Instance may set the case for a hearing in its discretion. If the request is not made, the case shall be taken under advisement.
Counsel shall be granted fifteen (15) minutes each for the principal oral argument and five (5) additional minutes each for rebuttal. These terms may be modified in the discretion of the presiding judge.
The briefs shall be typewritten, double spaced, and they shall contain no more than fifteen (15) legal-sized pages, unless the court expressly authorizes more.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 10 - Judgment on appeal; reconsideration; execution in the District Court

The presiding judge may affirm, modify or reverse the judgment appealed, remand the case for further proceedings or, in the pertinent case, enter the judgment that the District Court should have entered.
Any party aggrieved by a judgment rendered on appeal may, pursuant to the Rules of Civil Procedure, App. III of Title 32, and the Rules of Criminal Procedure, App. II of Title 34, as the case may be, file in the part of the Court of First Instance where it was entered a motion for reconsideration of the judgment, stating therein the grounds for its request.
Once the term to move for reconsideration expires, or five (5) days after notice is filed in the record of an order deciding a motion for reconsideration, if one was filed, the Clerk of the Court of First Instance shall return the original record to the part of the Distict Court from where it came, together with a certified copy of the judgment on appeal, which shall constitute the mandate on appeal. Any further steps for the execution of the judgment shall be taken in said Court.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 11 - Supplementary provisions

Unless it is otherwise provided in these rules or in any other applicable rules and regulations, the Administrative Judge of each part shall enter the orders that are necessary for the best conduct and for the just, speedy and inexpensive prosecution of the appeal.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › III-A - Rules Governing Appeals from the District Court to the Superior Court, Now First Instance (§§ 1 — 12) › Rule 12 - Effectiveness and repeal

These rules shall become effective on October 1, 1979, and once they become effective, the Rules Governing Appeals From the District Court to the Court of First Instance approved on October 7, 1952 [App. III of this title], will stand repealed.
History —June 7, 1979, eff. Oct. 1, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › V - Judicial Conference › § I. - Purpose

The Judicial Conference of Puerto Rico is hereby created to study the state of judicial administration, to promote measures for the improvement of judicial proceedings, to consider and recommend legislation on the adoption of rules of procedure for the courts and, in general, to address matters concerning the judicial system, its improvement, and the effective administration of justice.
History —Oct. 10, 1957; June 30, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › V - Judicial Conference › § II. - Membership

The Judicial Conference shall be composed of the following members:
(1) The Justices and former Justices of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.
(2) The Judges of the Court of First Instance.
(3) The Municipal Judges.
(4) The Secretary of Justice and the Solicitor General.
(5) The members of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Bar Association.
(6) The chairs of the district delegations of the Bar Association.
(7) The deans of duly accredited law schools established in Puerto Rico.
(8) Other members of the Bar Association that may be appointed by the Supreme Court, who shall be distinguished representatives of the different sectors of the legal community, such as: prosecuting attorneys, solicitors, registrars of property, lawyers of Puerto Rico Legal Services, Inc., and of the Legal Aid Society, and, in general, attorneys engaged in the private practice of law.
(9) Citizens other than lawyers, who may contribute their knowledge and professional experience to the achievement of the goals of the Judicial Conference from an interdisciplinary standpoint.
History —Oct. 10, 1957, Nov. 18, 1957; Sept. 29, 1959; Nov. 23, 1960; June 28, 1963; June 30, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › V - Judicial Conference › § III. - Committees of the Judicial Conference; duties

The Supreme Court shall appoint a standing executive committee and advisory committees. Each committee shall have its own chair. These committees shall be in charge of fulfilling the purposes of the Conference and carrying out any special business entrusted to them. Once the committees are organized, the Court shall call them to joint or separate meetings to commence work. Each committee shall meet on such dates and at such places as the chair may determine to receive, discuss, and consider the steps taken with regard to the subject matter falling within the sphere of its particular responsibility or commission; and shall submit to the Supreme Court, within the period fixed therefor, a full report of its work and recommendations.
History —Oct. 10, 1957; June 28, 1963; June 30, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › V - Judicial Conference › § IV. - Executive Committee; duties

The executive committee shall be a standing committee composed of the chair of all the advisory committees, and shall be constituted every four years. The chair of the executive committee shall be appointed by the Supreme Court.
The executive committee shall have the following duties:
(1) Collaborate with the Supreme Court and the Secretariat of the Judicial Conference in the organization of the sessions and coordination of the business of the Conference.
(2) Plan the presentation of the proposals and the recommendations made thereto, and impart such guidelines as may be adequate for the advisory committees.
(3) Analyze, as an evaluating body, the proposals, studies, and recommendations presented by the advisory committees.
(4) Maintain an interchange of ideas and opinions with the advisory committees on the matters or issues that should be considered by the Judicial Conference in a plenary session, subject to the approval of the Supreme Court.
History —Oct. 19, 1957; June 28, 1963; June 30, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › V - Judicial Conference › § V. - Advisory committees; membership and duties

The advisory committees shall be constituted by the Supreme Court. The members of said committees shall be appointed for a reasonable term so that they may complete the assignments entrusted to them. The committees shall have an ample representation of Judges of the Court of First Instance, Municipal Judges, and lawyers from different sectors of the legal practice, including prosecuting attorneys, registrars of property, solicitors, and members of the academy. The following shall be taken into consideration when selecting candidates: professional experience, interest in improving the administration of justice, professional merits, the level of specialization, and academic rigour.
A total of five permanent advisory committees shall be constituted, in addition to the ad hoc committees constituted by the Supreme Court through an order issued to such effect. The standing shall be the following:
(1) Committee on Rules of Evidence.
(2) Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure.
(3) Committee on Rules of Criminal Procedure.
(4) Committee on Rules of Minors’ Matters.
(5) Committee on Judicial Reform and on Administration of the Court of First Instance.
The duties specifically assigned to each advisory committee are listed under No. VI below.
In general, the advisory committees shall evaluate the operation and allocation of urgent regulations in their respective fields of action, and shall propose such recommendations as they may deem necessary.
The Advisory Committees on Rules of Procedure shall be governed by a set of regulations that will fix the course of action to follow with regard to the proposed amendments and recommendations.
Each advisory committee will be in charge of circulating its recommendations and preparing explanatory comments, holding public hearings, and drafting the final report that will be submitted to the executive committee.
History —Oct. 10, 1957, added in June 30, 1987, amended Nov. 15, 1996.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › V - Judicial Conference › § VII. - Chair; powers; meetings

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or, in lieu thereof, the Justice acting in his place, shall preside over the Judicial Conference. The Conference shall hold plenary sessions on such dates and at such places as the Court may determine. The Supreme Court or its Chief Justice may call such other additional plenary sessions deemed advisable, as well as special meetings to address specific matters in any division or Part of the Court of First Instance. The call to a meeting to such effects may include the composition, function, and purpose of the same.
Likewise, the Supreme Court or its Chief Justice may call joint or separate Meetings of Court of First Instance Judges, District Judges, or Municipal Judges, as well as Meetings of Citizens, to study and present recommendations on problems concerning the judicial system and the effective administration of justice.
History —Oct. 10, 1957; Sept. 29, 1959; June 28, 1963; renumbered as VII on June 30, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › V - Judicial Conference › § VIII. - Secretary

The Administrative Director of the Courts shall act as Secretary of the Judicial Conference. He shall provide the necessary personnel and resources, and shall take and keep a record of all the proceedings.
History —Oct. 10, 1957; Sept. 29, 1959; Nov. 23, 1960; June 28, 1963; renumbered as VIII on June 30, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 1 - Integrity, honesty, diligence, and impartiality

Marshals shall observe the highest standard of integrity, honesty, diligence, and impartiality, taking always into consideration that the faith of a people in its public justice rests on the trust that the officers who participate in its administration deserve.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 2 - Cooperation with all other officers of court

Since the marshals are part of the efficient functioning of the court, they should give their cooperation to all other officers of the court in order to obtain a prompt and efficient dispatch of pending matters and which may be connected with their obligations.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 3 - Partiality; sign of friendship

Marshals shall not furnish any basis, during the course of a trial or any judicial proceeding, to create the impression that they are acting with partiality in favor of any of the parties nor give any sign of friendship that may be misconstrued. Their mission in the courtroom is fixed by law and the rules of the court. The rules as to the appearance or presence in the courtroom of defendants, complainants, or aggrieved citizens and witnesses should be strictly observed.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 4 - Approaches or promises

It is considered improper for any marshal to approach the judge or promise any of the parties to help him with the judge in a case that is pending or about to be considered.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 5 - Remuneration from any person or entity prohibited

Under no circumstances may marshals accept remuneration, pay, reward, or emolument of any kind in addition to their salary for official services rendered to any person or entity. Marshals may [not] and cannot receive any remuneration other than that fixed by law.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 6 - Punctuality

Marshals shall fulfill their duties [in a] timely [manner].
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 7 - Attire

Marshals shall be properly attired as [shall] all other judicial officers.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 8 - Personal views on political matters

Except for the right to his own personal views on political matters and, of course, to exercise the right to vote, no marshal shall make any contribution, directly or indirectly, to any political group or party, and shall hold no position therein to engage in a political campaign of any kind.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 9 - Duties toward the jury

Marshals shall be acquainted and comply strictly with the provisions of the law regulating their duties toward the jury. While the jury is under the custody of a marshal, the latter shall refrain from speaking to the jurors on the merits of the case under consideration and shall not permit any person to communicate with them. Likewise, it is the duty of the marshal who has the custody of a jury to inform the judge presiding [at] the trial of any activity contrary to the orders or instructions of the court.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 10 - Safety and order in court

Marshals shall be responsible for the personal safety of the judges, prosecuting attorneys, attorneys, and other officers, parties or witnesses, and shall take the necessary measures to keep order in the court.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 11 - Use of position and influence for private benefit

Marshals shall refrain from using their official position for the purpose of deriving benefit in business of any kind. Nor should they use their official influence to solicit gifts or contributions for any entity or social activity under their direction.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 12 - Opinions on official matters prohibited

Marshals shall refrain from giving their opinion on official matters not within the province of their office nor inherent in their position.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 13 - Acting as witness

Marshals shall avoid acting as character witnesses in criminal actions or in civil suits whenever this function may be performed by another person.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 14 - Execution of orders

Marshals shall not execute any order except when given by their superiors, nor listen to indications of any person not connected with the administration or justice in Puerto Rico.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 15 - Exhibition and use of weapons

Marshal shall not exhibit weapons ostentatiously, either within or outside of the premises of the court, nor make improper use thereof. The weight of the authority of marshals shall be exercised only to keep order in the court.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 16 - Selection of assistants

In the exercise of the power granted to marshals by law to select their assistants, marshals shall preserve their freedom of opinion without the influence of any persons or groups. Assistant marshals shall discharge the same duties as marshals and must therefore be capable, competent, loyal. Marshals shall strive to make the selection that will guarantee the best public service.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 17 - Compliance with orders beyond office hours

Marshal shall comply with any order given by the judge or by a superior officer, regardless of whether such order requires him to work beyond office hours.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 18 - Relations with fellow marshals

Marshals shall maintain the best relations among themselves and shall avoid any criticism tending to impair the prestige of fellow marshals.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 19 - Interest in judicial proceedings

Marshals shall not participate in any judicial proceeding in which they are directly or indirectly interested. Marshals, merely because they are marshals, shall not be [in] either a better or a worse position than any other citizen to litigate their rights.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 20 - Conduct in executing a warrant of arrest

In executing a warrant of arrest, marshals shall be alert and take every possible measure of safety for their own protection as well as for the protection of other persons assisting them. They shall avoid causing any unnecessary fear or humiliation to a person [being] arrested. They shall always maintain a firm, considerate, and formal attitude in accordance with their position. They shall be careful and thorough in searching the person under arrest.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 21 - Procuring counsel for litigants

Marshals shall not procure counsel for litigants or defendants or recommend to [them the] professional services of any particular attorney.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VI - Rules of Conduct and Efficiency for the Marshals and Assistant Marshals of the Court of First Instance of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 1 — 22) › Rule 22 - Other standards

These rules contain certain sound standards in connection with the proper discharge of the office of marshal. However, they do not exclude other standards provided by law or [that are] inherent in his functions.
History —June 30, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VII-B - Regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners (1983) (§§ 1 — 18) › Rule 3 - Bar examination-General information

(a) Dates and places. — Written bar examinations in the Spanish language shall be administered to applicants to the practice of law on three (3) consecutive days during the months of March and September of each year, on the dates and places designated by the Chairperson and the Executive Director of the Board of Bar Examiners. Applicants may answer the bar examination in either Spanish or English.
(b) Publication of notices. — The Board of Bar Examiners shall publish the following notices to be charged to the budget of the Supreme Court:
(1) A prominent notice in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in Puerto Rico (to be published at least 60 days before the date scheduled for the beginning of each bar examination), setting forth the place, dates of the examination, deadline for filing application and a description of the subjects to be covered in the examination.
(2) The Board shall publish, once the results of the bar examination are available, a notice in a daily newspaper of general circulation in Puerto Rico. This notice shall set forth, in alphabetical order, the names and places of residence of applicants who have passed the bar examination and shall invite any person who objects to the admission of any applicant to the practice of law to so notify the Board within fifteen (15) days of publication of the notice. This notice shall be certified in a sworn statement by the manager or editor of the newspaper where it was published, indicating the date of publication.
History —Mar. 17, 1983; Jan. 16, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VII-B - Regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners (1983) (§§ 1 — 18) › Rule 6.1 - Grading of multiple-choice examination

The multiple-choice section of the examination shall be corrected by computer.
History —Mar. 17, 1983; Jan. 16, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VII-B - Regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners (1983) (§§ 1 — 18) › Rule 6.2 - Evaluation of examination

The final data of the computerized correction of the multiple-choice part shall be combined with the grades awarded by the graders to the essay questions in order to obtain the final grade.
The point-values of the multiple-choice and essay sections of the examination shall be scientifically adjusted so that the different questions are of equivalent difficulty among themselves and with respect to previous examinations. To accomplish this the Board shall use a scientifically accepted method of evaluation. The passing grade for the general examination of September 1989 is under review and a notice will be published announcing the passing grade for that examination during the month of August 1989.
History —Mar. 17, 1983; Jan. 16, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VII-B - Regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners (1983) (§§ 1 — 18) › Rule 8 - Notice to the court

Once the results of the bar examinations are known, the Executive Director of the Board shall inform the court, which shall set the date or dates on which to take the oath of the applicants who have passed the general examination and who have obtained a certificate of good conduct and character from the Committee on Character of Applicants for Admission to the Bar.
History —Mar. 17, 1983; Jan. 16, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VII-B - Regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners (1983) (§§ 1 — 18) › Rule 9 - Notice to Examinees

As soon as possible after the results of the bar examination are known, the Executive Director of the Board shall mail a notice to each examinee with the total score obtained by him and another one detailing the points obtained in each question or period of examination.
History —Mar. 17, 1983, Jan. 16, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VII-B - Regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners (1983) (§§ 1 — 18) › Rule 11 - Notification of the Committee on Character

Soon after the results of the bar examination are known, the Executive Director shall provide the Committee on Character of Applicants for Admission to the Bar with a certified list of all the applicants who passed the examination, a copy of the notice and the sworn statement mentioned in Rule 3(b)(2) and, with regard to every applicant who passed the test, copies of the documents listed in Rule 2(b)(1) in its paragraphs (A), (C), (D), (E), (J), and (K), and any communications that may have been received regarding the applicant’s character and conduct.
History —Mar. 17, 1983; Jan. 16, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VII-B - Regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners (1983) (§§ 1 — 18) › Rule 12 - Oath taking ceremony

The oath taking ceremony for new attorneys shall be set for the nearest possible date after the results of each bar examination are known, taking into consideration the time needed for the Committee on Character to issue its certifications on the conduct and character of the applicants. The ceremony shall be held before the Supreme Court en banc or before one of its divisions, [at] its discretion. The applicants shall wear [academic] gowns when they take the oath. Once their oaths are taken, they shall report to the Clerk’s office to receive their diplomas and sign the roll of attorneys.
History —Mar. 17, 1983; Jan 16, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VII-B - Regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners (1983) (§§ 1 — 18) › Rule 13 - Disposing of answer notebooks

After every bar examination, the Executive Director may dispose of the answer notebooks of the applicants who passed the examination. In all other cases, the Executive Director may dispose of said notebooks, provided that, in order to make feasible the procedure laid down in Rules 2(c) and 10, he keep at least the notebooks of the last three (3) bar examinations of the applicants who have failed the test. He may dispose of those notebooks once the applicant has taken the examination for a fourth time.
History —Mar. 17, 1983; Jan 16, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FOUR Appendices - Rules of Court (§§ 1 — 1-54) › VII-B - Regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners (1983) (§§ 1 — 18) › Rule 14.0 - Statistical reports

The Board shall submit to the court a statistical report detailing the results of each bar examination, indicating the percentage of applicants who passed the exam and those who failed, classifying results by universities and by the number of times that those who passed had previously taken the bar examination.
History —Mar. 17, 1983; Jan. 16, 1987.