P.R. Laws tit. 4, § 72b
The Committee shall have the functions, faculties and duties stated hereinbelow:
(a) Investigate and evaluate the candidates for judges as thoroughly as possible, with the purpose of recommending to the Governor the fittest and most capable persons to take office in the judicature.
(b) Candidates for the judicature shall be evaluated integrally, based on the following criteria: integrity and good repute; intellectual integrity; academic competence; professional skills, analytical ability; experience; performance capability; dedication; temperament; public service calling, and interest in pursuing a judiciary career.
(c) Request, compile and analyze the information and data pertinent to each criterion based on different sources, such as: law professors, attorneys, judges, prosecutors, clients and other members of the community who may know the candidate and can offer pertinent information; confidential investigations regarding the character and repute of the candidate; evaluations, interviews and tests of the candidate, including, if deemed necessary, his/her pshychological aspect. It may also receive the advice of the Senate on the candidate, pursuant to the constitutional power of the Body.
(d) Request the appearance of any person or production of any document necessary and pertinent for the evaluation of a candidate.
(e) Submit letters of recommendation accompanied by evaluation reports, to the Governor. Recommendations and evaluations shall be remitted within a term of one hundred and twenty (120) days after the candidate’s application has been sent. The following qualifiers shall be used in the recommendation to state its evaluation: “Exceptionally well qualified”, “Well qualified”, “Qualified”, “Not qualified”. The recommendation shall be accompanied by an evaluation report upon which the rating granted to the candidate must be based, and shall state with sufficient precision and detail the determinations and conclusions of the Committee regarding the personal and professional attributes that every candidate must have, according to the provisions of this chapter.
(f) Evaluate, should the Governor so request, the judges interested in being renominated or promoted, pursuant to the criteria established by this chapter.
(g) Recruit candidates who are fit to take office in the judicature to recommend them to the Governor.
(h) Draw up the regulations needed for its operation.
(i) Conduct the proper studies to improve the candidate’s evaluation mechanisms and recommend them to the Governor for the adoption thereof, through an Executive Order.
(j) Exercise all those incidental powers or those that are necessary or convenient to achieve the objectives of this chapter.
History —Dec. 5, 1991, No. 91, § 5.