Costa Rica’s Supreme Court President Luis Paulino Mora dies at 68

The widely respected president of Costa Rica’s Supreme Court, Justice Luis Paulino Mora, died Sunday night at Hospital Mexico in San José, where he was being treated for complications from pneumonia. He was 68.

Officials declared three days of mourning, and a state funeral at the Metropolitan Cathedral in downtown San Jose is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m.

President Laura Chinchilla posted a condolence message on her social media networks and confirmed that the government will hold a state funeral. “My thoughts go out to the family and the entire judiciary community. Luis Paulino Mora was a great friend and a deeply committed fighter for justice. He will have, as he deserves, all state honors,” Chinchilla said.

Mora served as justice minister during the first administration of President Oscar Arias (1986-1990) and the second president of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court or Sala IV, created in 1989. He became president of the Supreme Court in 1999.

Justice Zarela Villanueva, vice president of the Supreme Court since January 2010, will temporarily assume the post until a new president is elected.