José Conrado Hernández

Who was José Conrado Hernández?

José Conrado Hernández Santiago served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico from 1909 to 1922.

Born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, he obtained his bachelors degree in San Juan in 1865, a degree in Civil and Canon Law at the University of Salamanca in 1873, and a doctorate in theology.

He began practicing law in 1874 and was a Judge of First Instance in Aguadilla and Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and Santiago, Cuba. He served as a Magistrate in Pinar Del Río and Santa Clara, also in Cuba, as well as in Cibú and Manila, in the Philippines, before serving in Puerto Rico under Spanish rule. After the change of sovereignty to the United States, he was President of Puerto Rico's highest court in 1899 and was appointed Associate Justice of the new Supreme Court in 1900, a post held until his appointment as Chief Justice in 1909.

He died on June 20, 1932, at the age of 83.