Senate confirms Supreme Court justices, 5 agency heads

The island Senate on Monday confirmed two nominees for the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, Judges Camille Rivera Pérez and Raúl Candelario López.

Rivera Pérez received unanimous approval.

“After conducting an evaluation and analysis, this Committee recognizes that the academic and professional record of the nominee demonstrated her ability, dedication and commitment to her work in the Judicial Branch,” states the report on Rivera Pérez. “The examination of her personal, academic and professional qualifications reflects that the nominee meets all the constitutional, academic and moral requirements to hold the position to which she is appointed and has full commitment and responsibility to the Judicial Branch.”

Candelario López, on the other hand, faced opposition from members of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP), the Puerto Rican Independence Party, the Dignity Project, and independent Sen. Eliezer Molina Pérez. The appointment of Candelario López has been criticized by legislative minorities and opposition parties because he ruled in favor of the New Progressive Party (NPP) in most of the cases that were before him during the most recent electoral cycle.