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Julio Manuel Fuentes (born February 16, 1946) is a Senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Fuentes is the first Hispanic judge to serve on the Third Circuit.

Early life and education

Fuentes was born on February 16, 1946, in Humacao, Puerto Rico; he moved with his family from Puerto Rico to New York in 1950, according to a May 16, 2000, article in the Newark Star-Ledger. Fuentes' family settled in the South Bronx area of The Bronx, New York and moved to New Jersey in 1955. Fuentes grew up in Toms River, New Jersey and graduated from Toms River High School (now Toms River High School South) in 1964, where he played football and wrestled.

Fuentes earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971 from Southern Illinois University. His time at SIU was interrupted by a stint in the United States Army, from 1966 through 1969. After completing the United States Army Airborne School, Ranger School and the Army Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia, Fuentes served with the 8th Special Forces Group in Fort Gulick, Panama. He was honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant. Fuentes also earned a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from New York University in 1972. He then earned a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School in 1975, and another Master of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Rutgers University in 1993. In 2006, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Career

Fuentes worked as a lawyer in private practice from 1975 until 1981 and worked as a judge in the Newark Municipal Court from 1979 until 1987. He then served as a judge in New Jersey Superior Court in Essex County from 1987 until being confirmed to the Third Circuit in 2000.

Federal judicial service

Fuentes' name originally had been put forth for a District Court opening by then-Senator Robert Torricelli of New Jersey. President Bill Clinton's staff interviewed Fuentes and instead opted to bring forth Fuentes' name as a nominee at the court of appeals level. Clinton nominated Fuentes to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit seat on March 8, 1999. The United States Senate Judiciary Committee approved Fuentes' nomination on March 2, 2000, and the United States Senate confirmed Fuentes by a 93–0 vote on March 7, 2000. Fuentes received his commission on March 9, 2000, and was sworn in on May 15, 2000. "I intend to honor this trust every day," Fuentes told a standing ovation as he was sworn in, according to a May 16, 2000, article in the Newark Star-Ledger. He assumed senior status on July 18, 2016.

Personal life

During high school, Fuentes worked as a supermarket stock clerk and lifeguard, and "ha vague memories of having a paper route."

In 2002, he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University at Buffalo School of Law.

Fuentes resides in New Jersey, where he maintains chambers in Newark.

Notable former clerks

• Aditi Bagchi, professor of law at Fordham University Law School.
• Mark Colón, nominee for the position of assistant secretary for community planning and development.
• Jennifer Pacella, assistant professor in the business law and ethics at the Kelley School of Business of Indiana University.
• Myrna Pérez, judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
• Eric Ruben, assistant professor of law at SMU Dedman School of Law.
• Kerri L. Stone, associate professor at FIU College of Law.
• Jennifer P. Wilson, judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

See also

• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in the United States
• List of Hispanic and Latino American jurists
• List of Puerto Ricans

References

1. U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary (2001). Confirmation Hearings on Federal Appointments: Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, First Session, on Confirmation of Appointees to the Federal Judiciary. Vol. 2. p. 107.
2. "The Historical Society of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, June 2004" (PDF).
3. "Judge Fuentes, the School of Law’s highest-ranking federal jurist, honored for his career ", University at Buffalo Law School, November 2016. Accessed November 22, 2017. "Born and reared in Puerto Rico, Justice Fuentes grew up in Toms River, N. J., where his mother, a single parent, worked as a practical nurse."
4. Tabachnik, Sheri. "Toms River grad up for a federal judgeship", Asbury Park Press, March 4, 2000. Accessed November 22, 2017. "Back in the '60s, Julio M. Fuentes was a first-string wrestler and football player at Toms River High School."
5. Hall of Fame: Judge Julio M. Fuentes, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed November 22, 2017. "The Toms River Schools Hall of Fame is proud to induct Judge Julio M. Fuentes for his distinguished achievements in the field of law and, especially, for his appointment and confirmation to be a judge on the 3rd United States Circuit Court of Appeals, the second-highest level of the judiciary, just one step from the Supreme Court. His record in school as a student, as a person, as a member of the Student Council, and as an athlete, lettering in both football and wrestling---all presaged a most promising future."
6. "PUERTO RICO HERALD: Puerto Rico Born Jurist, Julio Fuentes, Sworn In As First Latino Judge On U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Third Circuit". www.puertorico-herald.org.
7. ^ Julio M. Fuentes at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
8. "Wrestling to Honor N.J. Members of National Wrestling HOF at MSU Match".
9. "Wrestling Hall of Fame - National Wrestling Hall of Fame". nwhof.org.
10. "On the Nomination (Confirmation of Julio M. Fuentes, to be U.S Circuit Judge, Third Circuit)". senate.gov.
11. "Congress.gov - Library of Congress". thomas.loc.gov. Archived from the original on January 14, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
12. Hon. Julio M. Fuentes interviewed by Valerie Blanco, October 13, 1987, Latino Oral History Collection, Puerto Rican Community Archives of the New Jersey Hispanic Research & Information Center at The Newark Public Library
13. "Past Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients". www.law.buffalo.edu. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
14. Kane, Paul; and Voreacos, David. "Puerto Rico Born Jurist, Julio Fuentes, Sworn In As First Latino Judge On U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Third Circuit", The Record (Bergen County) via Puerto Rico Herald, May 14, 2000. Accessed November 22, 2017. "Fuentes last served as the presiding judge in the general equity division, after sitting in the criminal, civil, and family divisions. . . . e also worked for a decade as the municipal judge in Newark and spent several years in private practice."
15. Third Circuit Directory
16. "Fordham online information | Academics | Colleges and Schools | Graduate Schools | School of Law | School of Law Faculty | School of Law Faculty Bios | School of Law Full-time Faculty | Aditi Bagchi".
17. "President Biden Announces Key Administration Nominations". April 27, 2021.
18. "Faculty Profile: Faculty Directory: Faculty & Research: Kelley School of Business: Indiana University".
19. "Senate confirms Latina voting expert Myrna Pérez as federal appeals judge". NBC News. October 27, 2021.
20. "Eric Ruben".
21. "TENURE AND PROMOTION CURRICULUM VITAE OF KERRI LYNN STONE" (PDF).
22. "Judge Jennifer P. Wilson | Middle District of Pennsylvania | United States District Court".

External links

• Julio M. Fuentes at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

• 1946 births
• Hispanic and Latino American judges
• Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Living people
• Members of the United States Army Special Forces
• New Jersey state court judges
• New York University alumni
• People from Humacao, Puerto Rico
• People from North Caldwell, New Jersey
• People from Toms River, New Jersey
• Puerto Rican judges
• Southern Illinois University alumni
• Superior court judges in the United States
• Toms River High School South alumni
• United States Army officers
• United States Army Rangers
• United States court of appeals judges appointed by Bill Clinton
• University at Buffalo Law School alumni
• 20th-century American judges
• 21st-century American judges
• Hispanic and Latino American lawyers