Juan R. Torruella

Juan R. Torruella
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
In office August 3, 1994 – June 15, 2001
Preceded by	Stephen Breyer
Succeeded by	Michael Boudin
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
In office October 4, 1984 – October 26, 2020
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Seat established by 98 Stat. 333
Succeeded by	Gustavo Gelpí
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
In office September 8, 1982 – October 30, 1984
Preceded by	Hernan Gregorio Pesquera
Succeeded by	Juan Pérez-Giménez
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
In office December 20, 1974 – October 30, 1984
Appointed by	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Hiram Rafael Cancio
Succeeded by	José A. Fusté
Personal details
Born	Juan Rafael Torruella del Valle (1933-06-07)June 7, 1933 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Died	October 26, 2020(2020-10-26) (aged 87) San Juan, Puerto Rico
Education	University of Pennsylvania (BS) Boston University School of Law (JD) University of Virginia School of Law (LLM) University of Puerto Rico (MPA) Magdalen College, Oxford University (MSt)

Juan Rafael Torruella del Valle Sr. (June 7, 1933 – October 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.^[1]

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.^[2]