Carlos Dávila Dávila

Carlos Victor Dávila Dávila (May 2, 1914 – July 20, 2010) was the oldest living former Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court for many years until his death.

Justice Carlos Victor Dávila Dávila in his office.
Flags on La Fortaleza flown at half-staff after Dávila's death[1]

Early life edit

He was born July 1914, Bayamón, Puerto Rico on La Palma street, near the house where Puerto Rico patriot José Celso Barbosa was born. After his father's [Sebastián Dávila] death when he was only seven years old, he was taken in by his uncle Virgilio Dávila, a well-known poet. Although initially interested in agronomy, he subsequently studied law at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law where he graduated and began practicing in his native Bayamón in the 1940s. After a brief stint at a law firm, he began working for one of the islands' most prominent attorneys, former Gov. James R. Beverly. After five years there, while arguing a case before the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, he caught the eye of Justice Angel De Jesus, for whom he served as a law clerk until the judge's demise on April 30, 1951 when he suffered a massive heart attack in his chambers at the Capitol.

Dávila lived in barrio Frailes in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.[2]

Career edit

Dávila served as an advisor to the Puerto Rico Constitutional Assembly that drafted the islands' Constitution, was appointed Deputy Solicitor General by Governor Muñoz, he served as the first Director of the Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico between 1954 and 1961, appointed as such by Senate President Samuel R. Quiñones and House Speaker Ernesto Ramos Antonini, until he was appointed to the bench by Governor Luis Muñoz Marín on June 1, 1961, when the court expanded from 7 to 9 members. Served in the Puerto Rico Supreme Court until his retirement on April 30, 1984. He became close to Muñoz while helping draft the Popular Democratic Party platform for the 1956 general elections. He died on July 20, 2010, at age 96, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

His son and namesake, Carlos Dávila Vélez is a former Superior Court judge, and his daughter, The Hon. María Adaljisa Dávila Vélez, currently serves as a Superior Court judge.[3]

Legal offices
Preceded by
New seat due to expansion
Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
1961–1984
Succeeded by

References edit

  1. ^ In Memoriam ante el Fallecimiento del Ex Juez Asociado Hon. Carlos Víctor Dávila Dávila (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Dávila, Luis Rafael (September 7, 2007). "Conversaciones en la catedral de la justicia". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via kipdf.com.
  3. ^ "Fallece ex juez asociado". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Inter News Service. July 20, 2010. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2022.

Sources edit