Milton Ray
{{Short description|Dominican Lawyer & Constitutionalist}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{family name hatnote|Ray|Guevara|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Milton Leónidas Ray Guevara
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|5|5|df=y}}
| office = President of the Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic
| term_start = 28 December 2011
| term_end =
| predecessor = Office created
| successor = Incumbent
| office2 = Minister of Labour
| term_start2 = 16 August 2000
| term_end2 = 16 August 2004
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| office3 = Senator for the province of Samaná
| term_start3 = 16 August 1998
| term_end3 = 16 August 2000
| predecessor3 = Enrique Pujals Pierrot
| successor3 = Ramiro Espino Fermín
| occupation = lawyer, judge and constitutional law expert
| parents = César Leónidas Ray, Ferolina Guevara
| spouse = Johanna Monagas
| children = Angelisa, Milton François, Iraima Elizabeth, Charles David, Ariel de Js, Dianaira
| alma_mater = University of Nice
}}
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, but he left the senatorial office when he was appointed Minister of Labour on 16 August 2000 and held that position until 16 August 2004.
Early life and family
Ray was born on 5 May 1948, in Samaná to Mr. César Leónidas Ray, of African American descent, and Mrs. Ferolina Guevara.
Academic studies
Ray 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 (mention très bien) 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).{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/sobre-el-tc/pleno/magistrados/milton-l-ray-guevara/|title=Tribunal Constitucional|website=tribunalconstitucional.gob.do}}
Curriculum vitae
- Professor of the Department of Juridical Sciences, PUCMM, 1970-2012 2020-Actuality
- Dean of students, PUCMM, 1971–1972
- Director of the Department of Juridical Sciences of the PUCMM, 1988–1997
- Director of the Mastery of Business Rights and Economic Legislation, PUCMM, 1993–1996
- Professor of Mastery in the Iberoamerican University, 2002–2011
Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court
Ray assumed the presidency of the Constitutional Court on 28 December 2011, and was sworn in by President Leonel Fernández.{{Cite web|url= http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2011/12/28/407746/Presidente-Fernandez-juramenta-a-los-miembros-de-las-altas-cortes|title= Presidente Fernández juramenta a los miembros de las altas cortes|accessdate= 6 May 2013|date= 28 December 2011|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120211042603/http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2011/12/28/407746/Presidente-Fernandez-juramenta-a-los-miembros-de-las-altas-cortes|archivedate= 11 February 2012}} At the time, some Dominican citizens, had accused Ray of unconstitutional behaviour.{{Cite web|url= http://www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/66443/56/Guido-Riggio-acusa-a-Milton-Ray-Guevara-de-violar-la-Constitucion.html|title= Guido Riggio acusa a Milton Ray Guevara de violar la Constitución|accessdate= 6 May 2013|date= 7 April 2013|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20130518094940/http://www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/66443/56/Guido-Riggio-acusa-a-Milton-Ray-Guevara-de-violar-la-Constitucion.html|archivedate= 18 May 2013}}{{Cite web|url= http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2012/3/28/421015/Choque-poderes-Senado-y-Tribunal-Constitucional|title= Choque poderes: Senado y Tribunal Constitucional|accessdate= 6 May 2013|date= 28 March 2012|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120401000750/http://hoy.com.do/el-pais/2012/3/28/421015/Choque-poderes-Senado-y-Tribunal-Constitucional|archivedate= 1 April 2012}} However, Ray has been defended by others in the Dominican Republic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hoy.com.do/opiniones/2012/4/9/422343/El-disparate-de-la-alegada-dictadura-constitucional|title=El disparate de la alegada "dictadura constitucional"|accessdate=6 May 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411191051/http://hoy.com.do/opiniones/2012/4/9/422343/El-disparate-de-la-alegada-dictadura-constitucional|archivedate=11 April 2012}}
In November 2022, Ray was awarded an honorary doctorate by Universidad Acción Pro-Educación y Cultura (UNAPEC), in recognition of his career as a jurist, professor and magistrate and for his contributions to Dominican constitutionalism.https://unapec.edu.do/noticias/unapec-inviste-al-magistrado-milton-ray-guevara-como-doctor-honoris-causa/ In February 2023, President Luis Abinader formally recognised Ray's contributions over his career.{{Cite web|url=https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias/presidente-abinader-encabeza-reconocimiento-la-prominente-trayectoria-juridica-de-milton|title=Presidente Abinader encabeza reconocimiento a la prominente trayectoria jurídica de Milton Ray Guevara | Presidencia de la República Dominicana|website=presidencia.gob.do}}
Works and publications
- Doctrina Jurídica Dominicana: Un Aporte Personal (Editora Taller, 1990)
- Institucionalidad y Justicia, Vol. I (co-editor con la Licda. Lidia Cabral, Editora Taller, 1993)
- Institucionalidad y Justicia, Vol. II (colaboración de la Licda. Lidia Cabral)
- Institucionalidad y Justicia, Vol. III (colaboración del Lic. Eddy Tejeda)
- Separata de Doctrina: Ambiente Conceptual para una Legislación de Grupos Financieros Bancarios (Revista Ciencias Jurídicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, 1998)
- Por un Samaná Mejor, Para un País Mejor (Gestión Senatorial 1998–2000)
- La Expropiación por Causa de Utilidad Pública en República Dominicana (tesis doctoral publicada en francés)
- La Guerra del Yom Kippur, Cese del Fuego, Superpotencias y Naciones Unidas (memoria para el certificado de Estudios Internacionales, Instituto de Derecho de la Paz y del Desarrollo)
- El Canal de Panamá y Las Naciones Unidas (memoria para el doctorado en derecho público)
- Los Extranjeros en la Seguridad Social (memoria para el Diploma de Estudios Avanzados (DEA))
- Opinión Constitucional (2014){{Cite web|url=http://www.diariolibre.com/lecturas/2014/10/30/i859851_circula-opinin-constitucional-milton-ray-guevara.html|title=Circula "Opinión Constitucional", de Milton Ray Guevara}}
Recognition
- Government of France, Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit, 1987
- Government of France, Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honour, 1999
- Order of the Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella, Grand Cross Silver Plaque, 2004
References
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Category:Dominican Republic judges
Category:Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra alumni
Category:Dominican Republic people of African American descent
Category:Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella