Carlos Molina II

Carlos Molina II is a Puerto Rican attorney whose professional and personal life is driven by a deep passion for social justice. With over two decades as a public defender, he has worked tirelessly to ensure equal access to legal defense, particularly for underserved communities.

Origin of an Unwavering Vocation

Carlos Molina II was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an environment where inequality was part of daily life. From an early age, he witnessed how justice did not always reach everyone. His passion for law was born from observing these social gaps. The street was his first classroom, and lived experience pushed him to do more than just understand the law: he wanted to use it as a tool to protect those no one listened to.

Education with a Social Purpose

After completing his studies at the University of Puerto Rico, Carlos continued at the Interamerican University, where his focus was never on collecting degrees but on transformative experiences. From the beginning, he collaborated with community legal clinics. He assisted people without resources, engaged in social causes, and built a professional ethic based on service. For him, studying law was always a form of social resistance.

A Life in Public Defense

For more than twenty years, Molina has worked as a public defender. He has taken on complex cases, and others more simple, but with the same dedication. In every hearing, he prepares as if it were the most important one. He has faced rigid systems and managed to overturn unjust rulings. He does not measure success by the number of acquittals, but by the respect he earns and the lives he helps redirect. For him, defending means accompanying, not saving.

Teaching as a Form of Justice

In addition to practicing law, Carlos has spent years training young lawyers. He gives workshops on legal ethics, human rights, and criminal defense. He is not interested in producing technicians, but conscious professionals. He works with universities on community internships. He believes knowledge must circulate, not accumulate. Many of his students now lead social justice defenses. He guides them, without seeking recognition, from a quiet commitment.

Justice Beyond the Courtroom

In daily life, Molina also acts from his vocation. He takes part in neighborhood meetings, legal education programs for teenagers, and activities in underserved communities. He speaks clearly, without formalities. For him, bringing the law closer to the people is part of his mission. He knows justice does not begin in courtrooms, but in collective awareness. That is why he goes wherever he is called, whether to a school or a public square.

Balancing with Family Life

Carlos has raised his children with the same values he applies to his work: respect, listening, and commitment. At home, conversations revolve around what it means to live with dignity. He does not separate work from personal life. His partner is also involved in social causes, and together they have built a home where service and empathy are part of everyday life. His family life is a true reflection of his legal convictions.

Presence in Legal Reform

Molina has taken part in judicial reform committees in Puerto Rico. His role has been key in debates on preventive detention, overburdened defense offices, and equal access to justice. He has also worked with international organizations on comparative projects. But he never presents himself as an expert. He prefers to listen and contribute from real experience. His authority does not come from titles, but from actions.

Mentorship as Legacy

Carlos does not plan to leave the legal profession. But in recent years, he has emphasized mentorship. Each year, he welcomes interns into his office to teach not just procedures, but how to look people in the eye when defending them. These encounters have become ritual. He teaches them that being a defender is not a job, but a way of life. Many of these young people now carry his teachings across the country, expanding his impact.