Carlos V. Dávila
Encyclopedia
Carlos Victor Dávila-Dávila (May 2, 1914 – July 20, 2010) was the oldest living former Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court for many years until his death.
He was born July 1914, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
on La Palma street, near the house where Puerto Rico patriot José Celso Barbosa
was born. After his father's [Sebastián Dávila] death when he was only seven years old, he was taken in by his uncle Virgilio Dávila
, a well-known poet
. Although initially interested in agronomy, he subsequently studied law and began practicing in his native Bayamón in the 1940s. After a brief stint at a law firm, he began working for one of the islands' most prominent attorneys, former Gov. James R. Beverly
. After five years there, while arguing a case before the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, he caught the eye of Justice Angel De Jesus, for whom he served as a law clerk until the judge's demise on April 30, 1951 when he suffered a massive heart attack in his chambers at the Capitol.
Dávila served as an advisor to the Puerto Rico Constitutional Assembly that drafted the islands' Constitution, was appointed Deputy Solicitor General by Governor Muñoz, he served as the first Director of the Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico
between 1954 and 1961, appointed as such by Senate President Samuel R. Quiñones
and House Speaker Ernesto Ramos Antonini
, until he was appointed to the bench by Governor Luis Muñoz Marín
on June 1, 1961, when the court expanded from 7 to 9 members. He became close to Muñoz while helping draft the Popular Democratic Party
platform for the 1956 general elections.
His son and namesake, Carlos Dávila Vélez is a former Superior Court judge, and his daughter, The Hon. María Adaljisa Dávila Vélez, currently serves as a Superior Court judge.
He was born July 1914, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
on La Palma street, near the house where Puerto Rico patriot José Celso Barbosa
José Celso Barbosa
Dr. José Celso Barbosa was a medical Physician, sociologist, and political leader of Puerto Rico.Known within Puerto Rico's New Progressive Party as "The father of the Statehood for Puerto Rico movement", Barbosa was also the first Puerto Rican to be awarded an American medical degree.-Early...
was born. After his father's [Sebastián Dávila] death when he was only seven years old, he was taken in by his uncle Virgilio Dávila
Virgilio Dávila
Virgilio Dávila , was a Puerto Rican poet, educator, politician and businessman. He is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest representatives of the modern literary era.-Early years:...
, a well-known poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. Although initially interested in agronomy, he subsequently studied law and began practicing in his native Bayamón in the 1940s. After a brief stint at a law firm, he began working for one of the islands' most prominent attorneys, former Gov. James R. Beverly
James R. Beverly
James Rumsey Beverley was a United States lawyer and Attorney General of Puerto Rico. While serving as Attorney General, he also served twice as acting governor of Puerto Rico....
. After five years there, while arguing a case before the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, he caught the eye of Justice Angel De Jesus, for whom he served as a law clerk until the judge's demise on April 30, 1951 when he suffered a massive heart attack in his chambers at the Capitol.
Dávila served as an advisor to the Puerto Rico Constitutional Assembly that drafted the islands' Constitution, was appointed Deputy Solicitor General by Governor Muñoz, he served as the first Director of the Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico
Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico
The Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico was created on January 27, 1954 to provide research, translation, library and legislative drafting services to all members of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly. Its duties are similar to those of the Congressional Research Service.The Office is...
between 1954 and 1961, appointed as such by Senate President Samuel R. Quiñones
Samuel R. Quiñones
Samuel R. Quiñones was a prominent attorney in Puerto Rico who served for twenty years as the fifth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico, from 1949 to 1968, by far the longest serving Senate President. He had previously served as Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico in the...
and House Speaker Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini was the President of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and co-founder of the Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico .-Early years:...
, until he was appointed to the bench by Governor Luis Muñoz Marín
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
on June 1, 1961, when the court expanded from 7 to 9 members. He became close to Muñoz while helping draft the Popular Democratic Party
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
platform for the 1956 general elections.
His son and namesake, Carlos Dávila Vélez is a former Superior Court judge, and his daughter, The Hon. María Adaljisa Dávila Vélez, currently serves as a Superior Court judge.
Sources
- http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/noticia/vidasunicas/noticias/conversaciones_en_la_catedral_de_la_justicia/275671
- http://www.oslpr.org (Past Directors of Legislative Services)
- http://www.elnuevodia.com/falleceexjuezasociado-745425.html (Obituary)