Silvia Carreno-Coll

Silvia Carreño-Coll is an Article III judge on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. On October 15, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Carreno-Coll to this court. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 25, 2020, on a 96-0 vote.^[1] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

The United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Carreno-Coll was a federal magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico from 2011 to 2020.

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (Article III judge, 2020-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

On October 15, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Carreno-Coll to an Article III seat on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination on February 25, 2020, by a vote of 96-0.^[1] She received commission on February 26, 2020.^[2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
Name: Silvia Carreno-Coll
Court: United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
Progress
Confirmed 133 days after nomination.
Nominated: October 15, 2019
ABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
Hearing: October 16, 2019
QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
Reported: November 7, 2019
Confirmed: February 25, 2020
Vote: 96-0

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Carreno-Coll on February 25, 2020, on a vote of 96-0.^[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Carreno-Coll confirmation vote (February 25, 2020)
Party	Yea	Nay	No vote
Democratic	42	0	3
Republican	53	0	0
Independent	1	0	1
Total	96	0	4

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Carreno-Coll's nomination on October 16, 2019.^[3] The committee advanced the nomination to the full Senate, voting by voice vote on November 7.^[4]

Nomination

On August 28, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Carreno-Coll to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.^[5] The U.S. Senate officially received the nomination October 15, 2019.^[1]

Carreno-Coll was nominated to replace Judge Jay Garcia-Gregory, who assumed senior status on September 30, 2018.

Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico said of the nomination, "Her professionalism, integrity and career in the public service on the Island, make her the ideal candidate to take on this role."^[6]

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Silvia Carreno-Coll well qualified.^[7] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Federal magistrate judge (2011-2020)

Carreno-Coll became a federal magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico in 2011.^[5] She was reappointed to serve a second term beginning September 12, 2019.^[8] She left office in 2020 to become an Article III judge on the same court.

Early life and education

Carreno-Coll was born in 1963 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She earned her B.A., cum laude, from Emerson College in 1983 and her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 1986.^[9]

Professional career

• 2011-present: United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
  • 2020-present: Article III judge
  • 2011-2020: Federal magistrate judge
• 1995-2011: Associate regional counsel, Environmental Protection Agency Caribbean Environmental Protection Division
• 1989-1995: Assistant U.S. attorney, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico
• 1986-1989: Attorney, Puerto Rico Department of Justice^[9]

Awards and associations

Awards

• 2010: Dedication and Commitment to the Conservation of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Service Recognition for Continued Support
• 2008: Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, Environmental Protection Agency
• 2006:
  • Outstanding Achievement in the Service of the United States Government New York Federal Executive Board
  • Certificate of Commendation for Outstanding Performance, U.S. Department of Justice
  • Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, Environmental Protection Agency
• 2005: Silver Medal for Superior Service, Environmental Protection Agency
• 2004:
  • Certificate of Commendation for Outstanding Performance, U.S. Department of Justice
  • Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, Environmental Protection Agency
• 2001: Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, Environmental Protection Agency
• 2000: Toxic Avenger Award, Environmental Protection Agency
• 1999: Regional Administrator's Team Award, Environmental Protection Agency
• 1998:
  • Certificate of Award for Sustained Superior Performance, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Outstanding Performance Rating for Noteworthy Contribution and Special Achievement, Environmental Protection Agency
• 1997:
  • Certificate of Award for Sustained Superior Performance, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Outstanding Performance Rating for Noteworthy Contribution and Special Achievement, Environmental Protection Agency
• 1996:
  • Certificate of Award for Sustained Superior Performance, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Outstanding Performance Rating for Noteworthy Contribution and Special Achievement, Environmental Protection Agency
• 1993:
  • Certificate of Appreciation for Noteworthy Contribution, Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Recognition for Outstanding Commitment to the Conservation of Our Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Commissioner's Special Citation for Exemplary Representation in the District Court for the District of Puerto Rico in a Medical Device Case, Food and Drug Administration^[9]

Associations

• 2011-present (as of 2020): Federal Bar Association
• 1987-2010: Puerto Rico Bar (Colegio de Abogados)^[9]

About the court

District of Puerto Rico
First Circuit
Judgeships
Posts: 7
Judges: 7
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Raúl Arias-Marxuach
Active judges: María Antongiorgi-Jordán, Raúl Arias-Marxuach, Silvia Carreno-Coll, Pedro A. Delgado Hernandez, Aida Delgado-Colon, Gina Méndez-Miró, Camille Vélez-Rivé Senior judges: Francisco Besosa, Daniel Dominguez, Jay Garcia-Gregory

The United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico is one of 94 United States district courts. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit based in downtown Boston at the John Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse, but hears appeals at the Old San Juan courthouse for two sessions each year.

The District of Puerto Rico has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The jurisdiction of the District of Puerto Rico consists of all the municipalities in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The court is based in San Juan with the main building being the Clemente Ruiz Nazario U.S. Courthouse located in the Hato Rey district of San Juan.

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

• The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
• The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

• As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

• After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

• If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
• If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

• The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

• If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
• If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.

See also

• United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
• United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
• U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit

Footnotes