74-year old lawyer Milton Ray Guevara can have the satisfaction of leaving his job as the first presiding judge of the Constitutional Court with the recognition of most Dominicans of a job well done.
In a country where politics has mostly prevailed, the Constitutional Court under Ray Guevara was agile and responsive and levied down well-pondered decisions, winning the respect of most Dominicans.
The Constitutional Court is the court of last resort and the highest judicial body within the country’s court system.
This week, the National Council of the Magistracy has been convened to replace presiding judge Milton Ray Guevara as his constitutional term expires in December 2023. He was in the position for 12 years. Ray assumed the presidency of the Constitutional Court on 28 December 2011.
On the occasion of his retirement from the court, the Chamber of Deputies voted a resolution recognizing the work of Ray Guevara. Speaking during the recognition, Ray Guevara urged that the Chamber of Deputies take on its role as a control of the Executive Branch.
Milton Leónidas Ray Guevara (born 5 May 1948, in Samaná) is a Dominican lawyer, judge and expert constitutionalist. He is the first and current chief justice of the Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic.
He was elected senator for 1998-2002 by the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD). He left the senatorial office when he was appointed Minister of Labor on 16 August 2000 and held that position until 16 August 2004 during the government of former President Hipólito Mejía.
Ray Guevara graduated in law summa cum laude from the Mother and Teacher Pontifical Catholic University (PUCMM) in 1970. He then studied in Europe, graduating as doctor in public law from the University of Nice, France in 1975. He also gained a diploma of advanced studies (DEA) in social law from the Sorbonne in Paris, France (1984), and diplomas in comparative law from Strasbourg, France (1976); from the International School of Trieste, Italy (1976); and the School of Banking Law of Barcelona, Spain (1975).
Ray Guevara was working as professor of law at the PUCMM from 1970 to 2012 when he took on the responsibility as first president of the Constitutional Court.
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11 October 2023