The short version
- NotiCel reported that the PPD Board of Governors approved Resolution 6-2026 committing to repeal the judicial reform law
- Metro Puerto Rico reports the law transfers administrative powers from the chief justice to the full Supreme Court
- El Vocero reported the reform allows any associate justice or court administrator to order investigations of judges
- Manuel Calderón Cerame said the PPD will defend the Constitution and that judicial independence is not a partisan issue
Party resolution
The governing board of the Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) approved a formal resolution on Wednesday pledging to repeal the judicial reform law if the party regains power in 2029. NotiCel reported that the measure, known as Resolution No. 6-2026, was approved despite the law having been signed the previous day by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón.
According to Metro Puerto Rico, the law in question is Senate Bill 1096, authored by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz. It creates a new Judicial Power Act and repeals the 2003 Judicature Act. The PPD argues the changes alter administrative powers that Section 7 of Article V of the Constitution assigns to the chief justice of the Supreme Court, including the appointment of regional administrative judges.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Hoy la Junta de Gobierno habló con una sola voz. La independencia judicial no es un asunto de partido: es una garantía para cada puertorriqueño que acude a un tribunal en busca de justicia.
Our translation: Today the Board of Governors spoke with one voice. Judicial independence is not a party matter: it is a guarantee for every Puerto Rican who goes to a court seeking justice.
The source's own statement, as quoted by NotiCel. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Constitutional argument
El Vocero reported that the reform also allows any associate justice of the Supreme Court or the administrative director of the courts to order investigations into the conduct or capacity of any judge. It further empowers the full court to approve regulations, create offices, establish purchasing procedures, determine statistical systems and set up a press and communications program.
The PPD maintains that any change to this constitutional distribution of functions must be made through a constitutional amendment submitted to the people, not by ordinary statute. The party says the law separates authority from responsibility in court administration. Manuel Calderón Cerame, the PPD secretary general, stated that the party will not allow the Constitution to be dismantled dictatorially by the PNP.
Where the sources differ
All three sources agree that the PPD Board approved a resolution to repeal the judicial reform law signed Tuesday by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, that the party argues it violates Section 7 of Article V of the Constitution by transferring administrative powers from the chief justice to the full Supreme Court, and that Manuel Calderón Cerame made nearly identical statements about defending the Constitution. El Vocero adds details on additional powers granted by the law such as allowing any associate justice to order judge investigations and empowering the full court to approve regulations and create offices. Metro Puerto Rico notes the public differences between the governor and Senate president Thomas Rivera Schatz, and includes a supportive statement from Rivera Schatz that the other two sources omit.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state whether Gov. Jenniffer González Colón or Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz responded directly to the PPD resolution. They also do not indicate if the chief justice Maite Oronoz Rodríguez issued any further statement after the bill was signed into law, nor do they specify when the new judicial law takes effect or detail the full legislative voting record.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting EL PPD se compromete a derogar la Reforma Judicial
- Reporting PPD aprueba resolución para derogar la nueva reforma judicial
- Reporting PPD se compromete a derogar la reforma judicial si regresa al poder en 2029
How we checked this
NotiCel, Metro Puerto Rico and El Vocero all reported the PPD's approval of the resolution and Calderón Cerame's statements. El Vocero provided the most detailed list of powers transferred by the reform while Metro Puerto Rico alone mentioned the governor's differences with Rivera Schatz and quoted his defense of the bill.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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