Liana Fiol Matta

Liana Fiol Matta[lower-alpha 1] (born 1946) is a Puerto Rican jurist and formerly the 16th chief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Fiol was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and is the second woman in Puerto Rican history to serve in the highest court of the island as well as being the second woman to hold the post of chief justice.

Liana Fiol Matta
16th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
In office
April 11, 2014 – February 1, 2016
Nominated byAlejandro García Padilla
Preceded byFederico Hernández Denton
Succeeded byMaite Oronoz Rodríguez
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
In office
February 19, 2004 – April 11, 2014
Nominated bySila María Calderón
Preceded byMiriam Naveira
Succeeded byMaite Oronoz Rodríguez
Personal details
Born1946 (age 73–74)
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Alma materTrinity Washington University
Columbia University
University of Puerto Rico
Occupationjudge
professor

Biography

Fiol received her law degree from the University of Puerto Rico, magna cum laude, and later her master's and doctorate degree from Columbia University. She was a law professor in Puerto Rico during the 1980s until she was appointed Judge of the Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico by Governor Rafael Hernández Colón. She held that seat until 2003, when Governor Sila Calderón appointed her to associated justice for the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. She was confirmed by the Senate and began her duties on February, 2004. At present besides being an Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, she is a tenured professor at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law. On April 11, 2014, Fiol Matta became the 16th chief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, after being nominated by Governor Alejandro García Padilla, thus succeeding Federico Hernández Denton as court chief justice. Served as chief justice until her retirement on February 1, 2016.

Justice Fiol Matta was perceived as the leading liberal voice in the Puerto Rican high court.

Notes
  1. This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fiol and the second or maternal family name is Matta.
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