A New Judicial System For Puerto Rico

Paper Summary:

This paper asserts that Puerto Rico needs a new judicial system. This paper first explores the geographical breakdown of Puerto Rico's judicial jurisdictions and then gives a synopsis of how judicial selection should be completed in the new state, including what is considered minimum qualifications for justices, lawyers, and judicial review boards. The paper describes potential term limits for justices, from the lowest court to the state's highest Supreme Court. Existing judicial councils in other states throughout the United States are used by the paper as references for Puerto Rico's new proposed judicial system.

From the Paper:

"There are nine newly established Counties across Puerto Rico, they are: San Juan, Fajardo, Guayama, Ponce, Cabo Rojo, Isabela, Arecibo, Utuado, and Comerio County. In addition to a Superior Court, each county has its own office of the District Attorney. The District Attorney's office is responsible for the charging of all Felony and Misdemeanor criminal cases in the Court. The district attorney is selected through popular election every four years in alignment with the federal primary election. The election however, is non-partisan as those running for the office may not publicize their political views. The jurisdiction of the District Attorneys office of each county encompasses the full geographical designation of the county (LADA, 2008). Deputy district Attorney's or Assistant District Attorneys (in some counties) work in conjunction with the DA to prosecute cases. These DDA's or ADA's are the prosecutors who try the cases in court."

Sample of Sources Used:

• County of Santa Barbara, Public Defender, 2009, http://www.countyofsb.org/defender/default.aspx?id=4800
• Judicial Counsel of California, Practices and Procedure, Retrieved September 20, 2009 from http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/iopp.htm
• Kiley, D., Merit Selection of California Judges, 1999, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, retrieved September 14, 2009 from http://www.mcgeorge.edu/x1236.xml
• LADA, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, 2009, http://da.co.la.ca.us/
• Missouri Plan, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Plan

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