Rafael Hernández Matos Cardoza (October 24, 1902 – June 7, 1996) served as Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. Born in

Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Cabo Rojo (, ) is a Cabo Rojo barrio-pueblo, city and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality situated on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico and forms part of the San Germán – Cabo Rojo metropolitan area, San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropoli ...

Rafael Hernández Matos was a graduate from the

University of Puerto Rico School of Law The University of Puerto Rico School of Law is a law school in Puerto Rico. It is one of the professional graduate schools of University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus and the only law school in the University of Puerto Rico System. It ...

, in 1926 opened his law office in Ponce, Puerto Rico. was married to Dora Colón Clavell, public servant and first woman candidate for mayor of the city of Ponce. They had 3 sons, one of them is former Governor of Puerto Rico Rafael Hernández Colón. Was appointed associate justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court appointed by Puerto Rico Governor Luis Muñoz Marín. Held that position until his retirement in 1972. He returned to law practice in Ponce. He died on June 7, 1996, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, at the age of 93.

Sources

*La Justicia en sus Manos by Luis Rafael Rivera, Associate justices of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico People from Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican judges 1902 births 1996 deaths {{US-state-judge-stub