David Helfeld
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David M. Helfeld is the longest-serving
dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean * Dean Sw ...
of the
University of Puerto Rico School of Law The University of Puerto Rico School of Law is the law school of the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, the only law school in the University of Puerto Rico System and the only public law school in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1913 at ...
(UPR), he was a
professor emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retirement, retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". ...
. He taught law until age 87. He also served as a close advisor to long-time UPR
Chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...
and President Jaime Benítez. Helfeld, who does not practice law, serves as an arbitrator and a
Special Master In the law of the United States, a special master is an official appointed by a judge to ensure judicial orders are followed, or in the alternative, to hear evidence on behalf of the judge and make recommendations to the judge as to the dispositi ...
appointed by the federal district court in
Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
regarding a mental health class action against the Government of Puerto Rico.


Personal life

A resident of Puerto Rico, he was married to the late Raquel Armenteros Vázquez, a co-founder of Puerto Rico's
League of Women Voters The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan American nonprofit political organization. Founded in 1920, its ongoing major activities include Voter registration, registering voters, providing voter information, boosting voter turnout and adv ...
, and has several sons, including
Jan Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to: Acronyms * Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN * Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code * Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group * Japanese Article Num ...
, an attorney, Stephen and Peter.


Professional career

David M. Helfeld, a graduate of
Yale Law School Yale Law School (YLS) is the law school of Yale University, a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. It was established in 1824. The 2020–21 acceptance rate was 4%, the lowest of any law school in the United ...
and went on to do postdoctoral studies at
Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, Harvard Law School is the oldest law school in continuous operation in the United ...
. Helfeld was recruited by Chancellor Benítez to replace Dr. Raúl Serrano Geyls, who resigned as law professor to pursue a career in private practice that would eventually lead to appointment as an
Associate Justice An associate justice or associate judge (or simply associate) is a judicial panel member who is not the chief justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the Supreme Court of the United States and some ...
of the
Puerto Rico Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico () is the highest court of Puerto Rico, having judicial authority to interpret and decide questions of Puerto Rican law. The Court is analogous to one of the state supreme courts of the states of the United St ...
. He was Dean of our institution from 1960 to 1973. He began teaching Administrative Law and Labor Law, after being
blacklisted Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list; if people are on a blacklist, then they are considere ...
as a result of a scathing attack by
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
director
J. Edgar Hoover John Edgar Hoover (January 1, 1895 – May 2, 1972) was an American attorney and law enforcement administrator who served as the fifth and final director of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI) and the first director of the Federal Bureau o ...
, who accused Helfeld of being a communist. The attack was triggered for having co-authored as a graduate fellow at
Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
an article criticizing civil rights policies in the early days of what would come to be known as
McCarthyism McCarthyism is a political practice defined by the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a Fear mongering, campaign spreading fear of communist and Soviet influence on American institutions and of Soviet espionage i ...
. When former
Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...
Brain Trust member and former Governor
Rexford Guy Tugwell Rexford Guy Tugwell (July 10, 1891 – July 21, 1979) was an American economist who became part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's first " Brain Trust", a group of Columbia University academics who helped develop policy recommendations leading up to ...
returned to UPR, Helfeld met with him and helped him draft a new
United States Constitution The Constitution of the United States is the Supremacy Clause, supreme law of the United States, United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. Originally includi ...
, which Tugwell wished to propose but which even Helfeld considered impossible to enact. He was appointed Dean of the School of Law in 1960, succeeding professor Manuel Rodríguez Ramos, a position he held for over 13 years until 1974. During his term as Dean, he supervised the design, by architect
Henry Klumb Heinrich Klumb (1905 in Cologne, Germany – 1984 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) was a German architect who worked in Puerto Rico during the mid 20th Century. Education and early life Klumb was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1905. An honors graduate ...
, and construction of the new Law School building and recruited a varied, internationally diverse faculty. After resigning as Dean, he remained on the faculty until 1977, when he retired, and taught at the
Pontifical Catholic University A pontifical university or athenaeum is an ecclesiastical university established or approved directly by the Holy See, composed of three main ecclesiastical faculties (Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law) and at least one other faculty. These acade ...
School of Law in Ponce from 1977 until 1987, when he returned to UPR on a part-time basis.


Publications

Books Helfeld, D. M., ''Don Jaime Benítez: su papel creador como constitucionalista y en el desarrollo de la educación legal''. Published in ''Don Jaime Benítez: entre la universidad y la política'', edited by Acevedo, Héctor Luis. San Juan, PR: Universidad Interamericana, (2008). Helfeld, D. M. & Wipfier W. L. Mbareté: ''Ley superior del Paraguay: informe sobre la negación de los derechos humanos en el Paraguay por la Tercera Comisión de Investigación de la Liga Internacional de Derechos Humanos''. New York: International League for Human Rights (1982). Helfeld, D. M. & Wipfler W. L. Mbareté: ''The higher law of Paraguay: report on the denial of human rights in Paraguay / by the Third Commission of Enquiry of the International League for Human Rights.'' New York: International League for Human Rights, (1980). Stephansky, B. S. & Helfeld, D. M. & Wipfler W. L. ''Denial of human rights in Paraguay: report of Second Commission of Enquiry of the International League for Human Rights''. New York: International League for Human Rights, (1977). Helfeld, D. M. ''Informe sobre la renuncia en masa de 48 miembros del Cuerpo de Investigaciones Criminales: sometido a la Superintendencia de la Policía''. San Juan, PR, (1968). Helfeld, D. M. ''Proposed conclusions, findings, recommendations and rate order, rulings on exceptions, and final recommended rate order. San Juan, PR: Economic Development Administrator, (1965). Helfeld, D. M. ''Report in the matter of rates, fees, rentals, and other charges applicable at the Puerto Rico International Airport for the three years beginning June 1, 1961''. San Juan, PR: Economic Development Administrator, (1965). Articles Thomas I. Emerson and David M. Helfeld, Loyalty among government employees, 58 Yale L. J. 1 (1948) David M. Helfeld, Historical prelude to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 21 Rev. Jur. U. P. R. 135 (1951–1952) David M. Helfeld, Congressional intent and attitude toward Public Law 600 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 21 Rev. Jur. U. P. R. 255 (1951–1952) David M. Helfeld, Discrimination for political beliefs and associations, 25 Revista del Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico, 5 (1964) How Much of the Federal Constitution is Likely to be held Applicable to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico?, 110 F.R.D. 452 (1985) David M. Helfeld, “El Seminario sobre la Intimidad: su origen, el significado de su obra y su funcionamiento futuro”, RJUPR, (Vol.72), 2003, p. 651 David M. Helfeld, Narcotics, Puerto Rico, Public Policy: In search of truth and wisdom, RJUPR, Volumen 75, 2006, p. 1029 Helfeld, D. M. Derecho constitucional. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 77 no. 2 (2008). Helfeld, D. M. El factor de la demora en los tribunales de Puerto Rico. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v, 76 no. 4 (2007). Helfeld, D. M. Derecho constitucional. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 76 no. 2 (2007). Helfeld, D. M. Narcotics, Puerto Rico, Public Policy: In Search of Truth and Wisdom. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico v. 75 no. 4 (2006) p. 1029-69. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho laboral. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 74 no. 3 (2005) p. 709-35. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho laboral. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 73 no. 3(2004) p. 619-45. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho laboral. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 72 no. 3(2003) p. 459-95. Helfeld, D. M. La política laboral constitucional del 1952: sus principios essentiales y los factores que la influenciaron. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 72 no. 2 (2003) p. 143- 62. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer El arbitraje obrero-patronal (Book Review). Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 71 no. 1 (2002) p. 19 1-204. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho laboral. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 71 no. 2 (2002) p. 447-69. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho laboral. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 70 no. 2 (2001) p. 447-89. Helfeld, D. M. La jurisprudencia creadora: factor determinante en el desarrollo del derecho de arbitraje en Puerto Rico. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 70 no. 1 (2001) p. 1- 128. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho laboral. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 69 no. 2 (2000) p. 533-62. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho constitucional. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 68 no. 2 (1999) p. 345-408. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho laboral. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 64 no. 4 (1995) p. 82 1-56. Helfeld, D. M. Hacia una revisión sistemática de la obra legislativa. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 64 no. 2 (1995) p. 165-178. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho laboral. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 63 no. 2 (1994) p. 297-3 16. Helfeld, D. M. Derecho constitucional. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 60 no. 3 (1991) p. 791-864. Helfeld, D. M. Comentario a la ponencia del Magistrado Don Miguel Rodríguez Piñero iscussion of Los tribunales constitucionales en Europa. M. Rodríguez-Piñero. 57 Rey. Jur. U.P.R. 5-32 `88 Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 57 (1988) p. 33-41. Helfeld, D. M. How much of the federal constitution is likely to be held applicable to the commonwealth of Puerto Rico? Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 39 (1970) p. 169-206. Helfeld, D. M. Annual report and prospectus for a ten-year plan. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 30 (1961) p. 3-32. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer American colonial careerist (Book Review). Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 26 (1956–1957) p. 359-362. Helfeld, D. M., Recession otes Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 26 (1956–1957) p. 287-294. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer American legal system; the administration of justice in the United States by judicial, administrative, military and arbitral tribunals (Book Review). Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 24 (1955) p. 295. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer Labor relations and the law (Book Review). Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 23 (1953–1954) p. 86-90. Helfeld, D. M. Factors conditioning Puerto Rican labor policy. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 22 (1952–1953) p. 310-78. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer Prisoners at the bar (Book Review). Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 21(1951–1952) p. 350-4. Helfeld, D. M. Congressional intent and attitude toward Public Law 600 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 21(1951–1952) p. 255-320. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer Guilty or not guilty (Book Review). Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 21 (May 1952) p. 350-4. Helfeld, D. M. Historical prelude to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 21(1951–1952) p. 135-54. Helfeld, D. M. El preludio histórico a la Constitución del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 21 (1951-1952) p. 182-202. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer for defense (Book Review). Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, y. 19 (January 1950) p. 2 19-26. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer American democracy; a commentary and an interpretation (Book Review). Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, v. 19 (September 1949) p. 68-76. Helfeld, D. M. NAALC in the eyes of the beholder. Connecticut Journal of International Law, v. 10 (Spring 1995) pp. 365–78. Helfeld, D. M. How much of the United States Constitution and Statues are applicable to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico? Federal Rules Decisions, Vol. 110, (1986), pp. 452–474 (cite as 110 F.R.D. 449). Helfeld, D. M. Las relaciones constitucionales entre Puerto Rico y los Estados Unidos. Revista de Derecho Puertorriqueño v. 24 (March/June 1985) pp. 297–329. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer U.S. multinationals and worker participation in management (Book Review). Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law v. 16 (Summer 1983) pp. 721–34. Helfeld, D. M. Toward an improved compact of association between Puerto Rico and the United States. Revista del Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico, v. 38 (November 1977) p. 509-27. Helfeld, D. M. Discrimination for political beliefs and associations. Revista del Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico, v. 25 (November 1964) p. 5. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer Freedom to read (Book Review). University of Detroit Law Journal, v. 35 (February 1958) p. 416. Helfeld, D. M., reviewer Comparative law---cases and materials (Book Review). Tulane Law Review, v. 25 (June 1951) p. 539-45. Helfeld, D. M. Study of Justice Department policies on wire tapping. Lawyers Guild Review, v. 9 (Spring 1949) p. 57-69. Helfeld, D. M. & Emerson, Thomas 1. Loyalty among government employees. The Yale Law Journal, v. 58 (December 1948) p. 1-143. Helfeld, D. M. & Emerson, Thomas 1. Reply by the authors rticle Yale Law Journal, v. 58 (1948–1949) p. 412-421. Groner, Isaac N.; Helfeld, David M., Race discrimination in housing omments The Yale Law Journal, v. 57 (1947–1948) p. 426-458.


Awards and recognitions

The University of Puerto Rico's Law Journal devoted an issue, No. 4, Vol. 76, 2007, as a tribute to Dean Helfeld, with articles such as ''The Legacy of a Brave Man'', by Anthony Guadalupe Baerga, and ''Homenaje a Don David en Tres Actos'' (Tribute to Don David in three acts), by Carlos G. Mera Lastra. * Member,
National Academy of Arbitrators The National Academy of Arbitrators (NAA) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) honorary and professional organization of labor arbitrators in the United States and Canada that was founded in 1947. Its avowed purpose was "to foster the highest standards ...
* Member, Comisión del Gobernador para Recomendar Jueces, 1966–72, 1992. * Consultant to the International Legal Center, 1966–75; un Estudio Encomendado por el International Legal Center y la
Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare. Created in 1936 by Edsel Ford and his father Henry Ford, it was originally funded by a $25,000 (about $550,000 in 2023) gift from Edsel Ford. ...
sobre el Estado de la Educación Legal en las Escuelas Principales de Derecho de las Naciones de América Latina. * Member, numerous Minimum Wage Committees, P.R. Department of Labor * Legal Counsel to the
Puerto Rico Civil Rights Commission The Civil Rights Commission () is an official entity within the legislative branch of the government of Puerto Rico charged with investigating violations of citizens' civil rights. The commission is empowered to educate citizens about their civi ...
, 1968-72. * President, Comisión del Gobernador para Estudiar las Relaciones del Trabajo en el Servicio Público, 1973-75. * President, Comisión Consultiva del Gobernador Sobre la Política Laboral, 1977-84. * Legal Counsel to the Attorney General of Puerto Rico, 1983. * Member, Commissions of Enquiry on Human Rights in Paraguay, sponsored by the International League for Human Rights, 1977, 1980. * Special Master, Federal Mental Health Case, 1985–97, 2003-04. * Special Master, Federal Mental Retardation Case, 1987-89. * Director, Talleres Sobre el Arbitraje Laboral en España, Uruguay, Honduras y Guatemala durante la Década de 1980. * Member,
American Arbitration Association The American Arbitration Association (AAA) is an organization focused in the field of alternative dispute resolution, one of several arbitration organizations that administers arbitration proceedings. Structured as a non-profit, the AAA also admin ...
Task Force on NAFTA, 1994. * Legal Counsel to the Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico, 1997. * Legal Counsel to the Comptroller of Puerto Rico, 1998. * Member, Comité Consultivo al Sistema de “ADR” Adscrito a los Tribunales de Justicia de Puerto Rico, 1999. * Member, Comité del Presidente de la UPR para la Revisión del Reglamento General de la Universidad, 2002.


Death

David Helfeld died at 102 of age.https://derecho.uprrp.edu/blog/2025/04/24/2425-84-fallecimiento-ex-decano-y-profesor-emerito-david-helfeld/


Sources

https://web.archive.org/web/20121020050738/http://www.yale.edu/prconf/agenda.html https://web.archive.org/web/20110724214806/http://www.academiajurisprudenciapr.org/pdf/Revista_Volumen_VII.pdf THOMAS I. EMERSON, THE SYSTEM OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (1970). Cf. THOMAS I. EMERSON AND DAVID HABER, POLITICAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES, (Foreword, Robert M. Hutchins), ii y iii. 1952 Carlos G. Mera Lastra, Homenaje a Don David En Tres Acto, Revista Juridica Universidad de Puerto Rico, Volume 76, Number 4, 2007, 947. Anthony Guadalupe Baerga, The Legacy of a Brave Man, Revista Juridica Universidad de Puerto Rico, Volume 76, Number 4, 2007, 939.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Helfeld, David Living people Deans of law schools in the United States University of Puerto Rico faculty Harvard Law School alumni Yale Law School alumni 1948 births 2025 deaths