Jaime Fuster
Encyclopedia
Jaime B. Fuster Berlingeri (January 12, 1941 – December 3, 2007) was a politician who served as an Associate Justice
to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
. Justice Fuster, along with Justice Liana Fiol Matta
, was considered the leading liberal
voice in the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.
in 1962 and his Law Degree form the University of Puerto Rico
in 1965. He later obtained a Master's Degree in Law
from Columbia Law School
in 1966. He carried his post-graduate studies in Harvard University
. In 1985, he received a Doctorate, Honoris Causa
, from Temple University
.
of the United States
. He held that position until 1981. In 1984, he was elected Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
to the United States Congress
. During his tenure (1985–1992), he served a term as Chair of Congressional Hispanic Caucus
. In both terms he served on the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, and on the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. In Congress he was a strong advocate for educational and youth programs. He supported numerous laws and bills to give state and local governments assistance for youth service projects and programs aimed at preventing drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse. He also supported the establishment of a Children, Youth, and Families Administration, as well as the establishment of a federal child care program. He sponsored legislation to increase social security funds for families with blind, aged, and disabled dependents.
In 1992, Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
appointed him to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
. Fuster resigned from his Resident Commissioner position on March 4, 1992 to take an appointment as associate justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. He took the oath of office on March 4, 1992 after confirmation by the Senate, serving on the Court until his death.
Fuster was affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
and the Democratic Party of the United States
.
. His death left the Supreme Court in an unprecedented position with two seats currently vacant.
Federico Hernández Denton
, Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court
Francisco Rebollo
, Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court
Liana Fiol Matta
, Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is the highest court of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, having judicial authority within Puerto Rico to interpret and decide questions of Commonwealth law. As the highest body of the judicial branch of the Puerto Rican government, it is analogous to one of the...
. Justice Fuster, along with Justice Liana Fiol Matta
Liana Fiol Matta
Liana Fiol Matta is a Puerto Rican jurist currently serving as an Associate Justice in the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. She is the second woman in Puerto Rican history to serve in the highest court of the island.-Biography:...
, was considered the leading liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
voice in the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.
Education
He obtained his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1962 and his Law Degree form the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
in 1965. He later obtained a Master's Degree in Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1966. He carried his post-graduate studies in Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 1985, he received a Doctorate, Honoris Causa
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
, from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
.
Political career
In 1979, Fuster was named Deputy Assistant Attorney GeneralAttorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He held that position until 1981. In 1984, he was elected Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives elected by the voters of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico every four years...
to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. During his tenure (1985–1992), he served a term as Chair of Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus comprises 21 Democratic members of the United States Congress most of whom are of Hispanic origin. The Caucus is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics and Latinos in the United States and Puerto Rico...
. In both terms he served on the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, and on the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. In Congress he was a strong advocate for educational and youth programs. He supported numerous laws and bills to give state and local governments assistance for youth service projects and programs aimed at preventing drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse. He also supported the establishment of a Children, Youth, and Families Administration, as well as the establishment of a federal child care program. He sponsored legislation to increase social security funds for families with blind, aged, and disabled dependents.
In 1992, Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
appointed him to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is the highest court of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, having judicial authority within Puerto Rico to interpret and decide questions of Commonwealth law. As the highest body of the judicial branch of the Puerto Rican government, it is analogous to one of the...
. Fuster resigned from his Resident Commissioner position on March 4, 1992 to take an appointment as associate justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. He took the oath of office on March 4, 1992 after confirmation by the Senate, serving on the Court until his death.
Fuster was affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
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....
and the Democratic Party of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Death
Fuster died during the early hours of December 3, 2007 from cardiac arrestCardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
. His death left the Supreme Court in an unprecedented position with two seats currently vacant.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Corsican immigration to Puerto RicoCorsican immigration to Puerto RicoCorsican immigration to Puerto Rico came about as a result of various economic and political changes in the mid-19th century Europe; among those factors were the social-economic changes which came about in Europe as a result of the Second Industrial Revolution, political discontent and widespread...
Federico Hernández Denton
Federico Hernández Denton
Federico Hernández Denton is the 15th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Hernández received his Law Degree from Harvard University in 1969.-Biography:...
, Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court
Francisco Rebollo
Francisco Rebollo
Francisco Rebollo is a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. He served in that position from 1982 to 2008. Appointed by Governor Carlos Romero Barceló Rebollo served under Chief Justices Víctor Pons, José Andreu García, and Federico Hernández Denton, as well as Chief...
, Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court
Liana Fiol Matta
Liana Fiol Matta
Liana Fiol Matta is a Puerto Rican jurist currently serving as an Associate Justice in the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. She is the second woman in Puerto Rican history to serve in the highest court of the island.-Biography:...
, Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court