Liana Fiol Matta

Liana Fiol Matta^[a] (born October 20, 1946) is a Puerto Rican jurist, who served as the 16th chief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Fiol was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and is the second woman in Puerto Rican history to serve in the highest court of the island as well as being the second woman to hold the post of chief justice.

Liana Fiol Matta
16th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
In office April 11, 2014 – February 1, 2016
Nominated by	Alejandro García Padilla
Preceded by	Federico Hernández Denton
Succeeded by	Maite Oronoz Rodríguez
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
In office February 19, 2004 – April 11, 2014
Nominated by	Sila María Calderón
Preceded by	Miriam Naveira
Succeeded by	Maite Oronoz Rodríguez
Judge of the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals
In office 1992–2002
Nominated by	Rafael Hernández Colón
Personal details
Born	(1946-10-20) October 20, 1946 (age 79) Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Alma mater	University of Puerto Rico School of Law (JD) Columbia Law School (LL.M., SJD)
Occupation	judge professor

Biography

Fiol received her law degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law, magna cum laude, and later her master's and doctorate degree in Juridical Science from Columbia University. She was a law professor in Puerto Rico during the 1980s until she was appointed Judge of the Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico by Governor Rafael Hernández Colón. She held that seat until 2003, when Governor Sila Calderón appointed her to associated justice for the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. She was confirmed by the Senate and began her duties in February 2004. At present besides being an Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, she is a tenured professor at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law. On April 11, 2014, Fiol Matta became the 16th chief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, after being nominated by Governor Alejandro García Padilla, thus succeeding Federico Hernández Denton as court chief justice. Served as chief justice until her retirement on February 1, 2016.

Justice Fiol Matta was perceived as the leading liberal voice in the Puerto Rican high court.

Notes

1. In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fiol and the second or maternal family name is Matta.

External links

• Supreme Court of Puerto Rico: "Conservative and Slow" (Conservador y lento) - Primera Hora; Oscar J. Serrano; April 2, 2007 Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine