Born 1955 in Lares, Puerto Rico

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
Nominated by George W. Bush on October 25, 2005, to a seat vacated by Salvador E. Casellas. Confirmed by the Senate on March 6, 2006, and received commission on March 17, 2006. Served as chief judge, 2011-2018.

Other Federal Judicial Service:
U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, 1993-2006

Education:
University of Puerto Rico, B.A., 1977
Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law, J.D., 1980

Professional Career:

Department of Labor and Human Resources, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 1980-1982; legal investigator, 1980-1981; director of research and investigations, 1981-1982
Assistant federal public defender, District of Puerto Rico, 1982-1993; first assistant federal public defender, 1988-1993; acting federal public defender, 1991
Adjunct professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law, 2003-2004
Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 2021-2023