[NYJ]

Found on another forum, apparently Puerto Rico held another referendum today on their status. For the first time the option to pursue statehood won.

http://www.ceepur.org/REYDI_NocheDelEven...S_ISLA.xml

http://www.thestate.com/2012/11/06/25095...Jn86sXBe3Q

Still would need to go through congress, but I found it interesting.

[Alpha Hunter Zero]

They already get the same rights and benefits as US citizens. I dont see whats the big deal in wanting to become another state.

[Cincinnatus]

Either make Puerto Rico the 51st state or let it become an independent nation.

It bothers me that citizens of Puerto Rico are required to abide by U.S. federal law, but have no representation in the legislative body which passes federal laws.

[NYJ]

(11-07-2012 02:10 AM)Alpha Hunter Zero Wrote:  

They already get the same rights and benefits as US citizens. I dont see whats the big deal in wanting to become another state.

Although they do have US Citizenship, they cant vote for the President, and don't have any voting representation in Congress. The rationale apparently is that they want Statehood now is because if they were a state they would be eligible for federal aid that a state gets. Their U-3 unemployment is higher than ours and they thing that even this move could benefit them economically as opposed to being an independent nation.

That's what I got from what I have read.

[el mechanico]

What do they do for us other than send bitchy girls here and soak up social services. Fuck em let them be an independent nation and make them go through the same shit the people in the DR have to visit here.

[Tex Pro]

Interesting.

Although, I bet the House Republicans would vote this down since PR would become a Democratic state with 2 Senators and 1 House Rep.

[azulsombra]

I dont see statehood happening any time soon. It would be interesting though, they would have to raise theyre drinking age to 21 and become even more americanized.

[fortysix]

Question for attorneys/people versed in the law -

Can US attorneys become licensed to take the bar in Puerto Rico? Does US federal law supercede the "state law" in puerto rico?

Could this be an untapped legal market that can be tapped by American lawyers?

7

[Pacesetter20]

(11-07-2012 06:15 PM)azulsombra Wrote:  

...they would have to raise theyre drinking age to 21 and become even more americanized.

If they want federal funds for some programs.

[Merenguero]

(11-07-2012 09:17 PM)se7en Wrote:  

Question for attorneys/people versed in the law -

Can US attorneys become licensed to take the bar in Puerto Rico? Does US federal law supercede the "state law" in puerto rico?

Could this be an untapped legal market that can be tapped by American lawyers?

7

Any graduate of an American Bar Association (ABA) law school can sit for the bar in Puerto Rico. There are many, many lawyers in Puerto Rico who received their Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees from law schools in the mainland United States. I graduated from a law school in the mainland United States and have often considered sitting for the Puerto Rico bar. The essays are written in Spanish, but it is my understanding that you may answer in either English or Spanish. I am fully fluent in both languages, but feel more confortable speaking and writing in English.

If Puerto Rico becomes a state, I believe the United States Constitution will supercede the Puerto Rico Constitution with regard to constitutional law. With regard to criminal and civil statutes, the current Puerto Rico statutes, which were derived from the Spanish Civil Code should remain in place.

Puerto Rico is far from being an untapped legal market. Lawyers make up a fairly high percentage of the population.