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Puerto Rican judge nominated as 1st gay chief justice | Puerto Rican judge nominated as 1st gay chief justice |
(about 1 hour later) | |
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rican judge Maite Oronoz Rodriguez has been nominated to head the U.S. territory’s Supreme Court as the first openly gay chief justice in the United States. | SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rican judge Maite Oronoz Rodriguez has been nominated to head the U.S. territory’s Supreme Court as the first openly gay chief justice in the United States. |
Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced the nomination on Friday afternoon calling it a “new time” for Puerto Rico’s judicial branch. At 39, Oronoz Rodriguez is also the youngest member of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. | |
“It’s time to strengthen justice to face the challenges” and “to pass the administration of justice to present generations who will live the results,” the governor said in making the nomination. | |
The 39-year-old was first appointed to the high court in June 2014. She previously served as the commonwealth’s deputy solicitor general and chief legal counselor for the city of San Juan. | The 39-year-old was first appointed to the high court in June 2014. She previously served as the commonwealth’s deputy solicitor general and chief legal counselor for the city of San Juan. |
In accepting the nomination, Oronoz Rodriguez said it was time for her to “step down from the podium and receive with open arms a citizenry that demands human justice.” | |
Her nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. | |
Oronoz Rodriguez is in a public relationship with Gina Mendez, the chief of staff for Senate President Eduardo Bhatia. | |
Gay rights activists hailed the nomination. | |
“With this nomination, Maite Oronoz Rodriguez makes judicial history; not just in Puerto Rico, but for the entire country,” said Lambda Legal attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan. He called the nomination “a significant step towards a judiciary that reflects the growing diversity of the United States.” | |
Lambda is a nonprofit group that aims to achieve full civil rights for gay people. | Lambda is a nonprofit group that aims to achieve full civil rights for gay people. |
The religious group Puerto Rico Pro Family criticized her lack of experience. Spokesman Cesar Vazquez Muniz attributed her nomination to her political connections and sexual orientation. | |
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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