Milton Ray

Milton Leónidas Ray Guevara is a Dominican lawyer, judge and expert constitutionalist. He is the first and current Chief Justice 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.

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 from the University of Nice, France in 1975. He also gained a diploma of advanced studies in social law from the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and diplomas in comparative law from Strasbourg, France ; from the International School of Trieste, Italy ; and the School of Banking Law of Barcelona, Spain.

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

Ray assumed the presidency of the Constitutional Court on 28 December 2011, and was sworn in by President Leonel Fernández. At the time, some Dominican citizens, had accused Ray of unconstitutional behaviour. However, Ray has been defended by others in the Dominican Republic.
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. In February 2023, President Luis Abinader formally recognised Ray's contributions over his career.

Doctrina Jurídica Dominicana: Un Aporte Personal
Institucionalidad y Justicia, Vol. I
Institucionalidad y Justicia, Vol. II
Institucionalidad y Justicia, Vol. III
Separata de Doctrina: Ambiente Conceptual para una Legislación de Grupos Financieros Bancarios
Por un Samaná Mejor, Para un País Mejor
La Expropiación por Causa de Utilidad Pública en República Dominicana
La Guerra del Yom Kippur, Cese del Fuego, Superpotencias y Naciones Unidas
El Canal de Panamá y Las Naciones Unidas
Los Extranjeros en la Seguridad Social
Opinión Constitucional

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