Juan R. Torruella

Juan Rafael Torruella del Valle Sr. (June 7, 1933October 26, 2020) was a Puerto Rican jurist. He served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1984 until his death, and as chief judge of that court from 1994 to 2001. He was the first Hispanic to serve on the First Circuit, which includes Puerto Rico. Before becoming an appellate judge, he served as a district judge on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico from 1974 to 1984. He was also a competitive sailor, competing for the Puerto Rican team at the Summer Olympic Games in 1964, 1968, 1972, and 1976. Education and career Torruella was born in Old San Juan, on June 7, 1933, to Juan N. Torruella and Belén del Valle de Torruella. His father was a dentist who became a lawyer. Torruella graduated from the Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey. He received his Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1954, his Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law in 1957, his Master of Laws from University of Virginia School of Law in 1984, and a Master of Public Administration from University of Puerto Rico School of Public Administration in 1984. His LL.M. work focused on judicial process. In 2003, Torruella received a Master of Studies in modern European history from Magdalen College, Oxford.