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title: "Vance E. Thomas Rider | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/vance-e-thomas-rider-pr-superior-court-judge-utuado"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Vance E. Thomas Rider

Puerto Rico Court of First Instance, Utuado Judicial Region · Superior Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Puerto Rico Court of First Instance, Utuado Judicial Region
- State: Puerto Rico
- Role: Superior Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Sources

- [Official profile](https://poderjudicial.pr/directorio-del-poder-judicial/directorio-telefonico-jueces-y-juezas-por-region-judicial/)
- [Official roster](https://poderjudicial.pr/directorio-del-poder-judicial/directorio-telefonico-jueces-y-juezas-por-region-judicial/)
- [Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico official judicial roster](https://poderjudicial.pr/directorio-del-poder-judicial/directorio-telefonico-jueces-y-juezas-por-region-judicial/)
- [SUMAC, Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos](https://poderjudicial.pr/tribunal-electronico/sumac/)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Vance E. Thomas Rider’s current position as a Superior Court Judge in the Utuado Judicial Region reflects a transition from political and administrative service to the judiciary

### Education


### Additional information

- His appointment to the judiciary was criticized by the Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), which labeled it “a reward for incompetence” and cited alleged labor rights violations during his tenure as Labor Secretary.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Puerto Rico Rules of Civil Procedure](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e1a946fa94dc63b269e66596) — Civil actions in the Court of First Instance; preserve the publisher’s March 2023 compilation date. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://poderjudicial.pr/Documentos/SecretariadoConf/Reglas-de-Proc-Civil.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.
- [Puerto Rico Rules of Evidence](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-b6a81b92ac872aa69bfa799a) — Evidence in applicable trial proceedings; Rule 103 exceptions apply; preserve the source compilation date. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://poderjudicial.pr/Documentos/SecretariadoConf/Reglas-Evidencia-2009.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.
- [Puerto Rico Rules of Criminal Procedure](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-19d13cae29e2b090cdd12e85) — Criminal proceedings in the Court of First Instance; preserve the source compilation date. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://poderjudicial.pr/Documentos/Leyes-Reglamentos/Reglamentos//Reglas-de-Procedimiento-Criminal.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.