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Puerto Rico Legal Research

This guide provides an overview of Puerto Rico’s government, court structure, hierarchy of norms, and primary and secondary laws.

Government of Puerto Rico

Introduction

This guide provides resources that may be valuable to the researcher seeking information about Puerto Rico's legal system. 

Spain and the United States have influenced the legal system in Puerto Rico historically and politically. The Civil Code of Puerto Rico followed the model of the Spanish Civil Code since 1890. While it is true that Puerto Rico's legal system developed within the Spanish civil tradition, since the Spanish-American War in 1898, it has been strongly influenced by the U.S. legal system. In 1900 President William McKinley signed the Foraker Act to establish a new system of government in Puerto Rico. Through the Jones Act signed in 1917 by President Woodrow Wilson, Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship. The state of Louisiana, acquired by the United States, had been a colony of Spain, and when Puerto Rico passed into the hands of the United States, the American government revised the Spanish Civil Code of Puerto Rico, incorporating many provisions of the 1902 Louisiana Code. Unsurprisingly, the Puerto Rican legal system is a mixed one where two orders coexist, the federal and the insular.  

The United States government established the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act to allow for the internal structure of Puerto Rico's government through its own constitution, adopted in 1952 and approved by Congress. The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico provides for a system of government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The Constitution of Puerto Rico and the Judiciary Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico govern the judicial branch, which in turn, has three levels: the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Court of First Instance. The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is the highest interpreter of the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and its decisions are not reviewable in another forum except in those cases in which the Federal Supreme Court has jurisdiction to review, in accordance with the principle of supremacy of the Constitution of the United States.

Branches of the Government of Puerto Rico

Legislative Branch

Legislative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puerto Rico has a bicameral legislature, named the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico (Asamblea Legislativa de Puerto Rico), which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives has 51 members representing 40 districts, and 11 at-large seats. Representatives serve four-year terms. The Senate has 27 members, with 16 representing eight districts; the other 11 members are elected based on the populations of the eight general districts. Senators serve a four-year term. Where is the legislative branch? This governmental branch is located in the Capitol of Puerto Rico, which is located in Puerta de Tierra, in the northern part of the Isleta de San Juan, on Constitution Avenue. de Tierra, in the northern part of the Isleta de San Juan, on Constitution Avenue. See more here.

Executive Branch

Executive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puerto Rico's executive branch consists of the governor, secretary of state, and executive agencies (referred to as departments). In Puerto Rico, the governor serves a four-year term with no term limits. Where is the executive branch? The Executive Branch is headquartered in the Santa Catalina Palace, commonly known as "La Fortaleza", located in Old San Juan. The departments and administrative agencies have offices in different parts of Puerto Rico of Puerto Rico. See more here.

Judicial Branch

 

 

 

 

 

In Puerto Rico, the judiciary (La Rama Judicial de Puerto Rico) has three levels. The lowest level is the Court of First Instance (Tribunal de Primera Instancia), which includes both municipal and district courts. The intermediate appellate court is the Circuit Court of Appeal (Tribunal de Apelaciones). The Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) is the highest court in Puerto Rico. For a better administration of justice, the Judicial Branch has thirteen (13) judicial regions throughout Puerto Rico. Each Judicial Region is composed of several municipalities. The thirteen (13) judicial regions are:

General Court of Justice and Federal Courts

Judiciary Structure and Special Jurisdiction

Puerto Rico Courts

1) Supreme Court of Puerto Rico 

The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico invites you to take a virtual tour of the headquarters that houses the judicial branch of Puerto Rico. In this virtual tour, you will be able to visit the different areas of the Supreme Court headquarters and learn about the architectural, ecological, and historical value of the Puerto Rican house of justice.

2) Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico 

The Judicial Branch of Puerto Rico invites you to take a virtual tour of the Court of Appeals. Through this virtual tour, you will be able to obtain information about the composition and operation of the second step of our Court System. By clicking on the icons, you will be able to visit different spaces and obtain information through audiovisual material that will allow you to know and understand the Court of Appeals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) Court of First Instance 

The Judicial Branch of Puerto Rico invites you to take a virtual tour of the Court of First Instance. Through this virtual tour, you will learn about the various services offered by the Court of First Instance to the community. You will also be able to obtain information about its composition and operation. By clicking on the icons, you will be able to visit different spaces and obtain information through audiovisual material that will allow you to know and understand the first step of our Court System.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico has offices in Hato Rey and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map of Court regions

Legal Hierarchy

By Elaine Tornes using Xmind