Esta ley establece la política pública de Puerto Rico para prohibir la designación de edificios y estructuras que albergan el Tribunal General de Justicia con el nombre de cualquier persona, viva o fallecida. El propósito es proteger y promover la independencia del Poder Judicial y asegurar que el proceso judicial se desarrolle en un ambiente solemne y respetuoso, evitando que la mención de nombres personales genere percepciones sesgadas en la ciudadanía.
(Approved January 5, 2002)
To establish the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico regarding the names of the buildings that house the General Court of Justice of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
It is necessary to protect and promote the independence of the Judicial Power as the balancing factor in the government structure of our democratic system of life.
The principle of judicial independence - inherent to the principle of neutrality - is not limited to its decision-making function, but rather to it being multi-formed; aspiring to be perceived as such by the public at all times. As corollary, the judicial process must take place in a solemn and respectful environment. To such effects, the executive and legislative powers traditionally, and in the measure allowed by fiscal resources, have made the needed appropriations so that the buildings that house the General Court of Justice of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, are in harmony with said characteristics.
Based on the above principles, the practice of naming the buildings and structures that house the General Court of Justice of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as a well-deserved tribute to illustrious persons, whether dead or living, has never been endorsed by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. The mention of the name of a person, inevitably generates in the perception
of the citizenry, an image of the values, thoughts, prejudices, and preferences that some share while other do not due to the differences in human thoughts.
Section 1.- To establish that it is the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to prohibit the designation of buildings and structures that house the General Court of Justice of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with the name of any person, whether dead or living.
Section 2.- The three constitutional branches of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall take the necessary measures to prevent any act contrary to the public policy established in Section 1 of this Act.
Section 3.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 13 (H.B. 427) of the $2^{ ext {nd }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to establish the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico regarding the names of the buildings that house the General Court of Justice of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $5^{ ext {th }}$ of December of 2003.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director