PRACDL Honors Jorge L. Arroyo Alejandro

This past Wednesday PRACDL held a very special activity to honor colleague Jorge L. Arroyo Alejandro for his "dedication, professionalism and continued contribution to the defense bar," as well as his enormous dedication to PRACDL, having been our longest serving President.

As invited speakers we had Chief Judge José A. Fusté, District of Puerto Rico, and Francisco Rebollo and Juan R. Acevedo-Cruz, both PRACDL members and, more importantly, good friends of Jorge, as well as PRACDL Vice President Linda Backiel, whose brief but moving comments almost brought tears to my eyes.  It should be noted that it was Linda who first proposed this activity to PRACDL's Board, a proposal that was unanimously approved.  Jorge's remarks were also very moving. He confessed that he had wanted to be a lawyer since he was a young boy, and how he had entered college having no idea what he would major in, but certain that he would thereafter go to law school. It is beyond question that throughout his career Jorge has earned the respect of fellow defense lawyers, prosecutors and judges.  Possessed with a keen intellect, and always well prepared, Jorge has always fought to protect his client's rights.

In addition to the many PRACDL members who attended, we were honored with the presence of District Judges Fusté, Domínguez, García-Gregory, Delgado-Colón and Gelpí. as well as Magistrate Judge Bruce J. McGiverin. Because Jorge Arroyo once worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, we also invited the members of the U.S. Attorney's Office and were pleased that a number of them attended, including María Domínguez, José Ruiz, Ernesto López-Soltero, Jacqueline Novas, Timothy Henwood and Aramis Ríos.

PRACDL President Mariángela Tirado-Vales presented Jorge with a beautiful  glass plaque, as well as a gift from PRACDL.  Accompanying Jorge was his wife, Ana, and their two lovely daughters, Sara and Veronica.  Meeting them makes one realize that Jorge's achievements have also been the result of the support of an outstanding family.