David M. Helfeld is the longest-serving dean of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law (UPR), he was a professor emeritus.
He also served as a close advisor to long-time UPR Chancellor and President Jaime Benítez.
Helfeld, who does not practice law, serves as an arbitrator[2][3] and a Special Master[4] appointed by the federal district court in Puerto Rico regarding a mental health class action against the Government of Puerto Rico.
[5] A resident of Puerto Rico,[6] he was married to the late Raquel Armenteros Vázquez, a co-founder of Puerto Rico's League of Women Voters, and has several sons, including Jan, an attorney,[7] Stephen and Peter.
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 of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.
The attack was triggered for having co-authored as a graduate fellow at Yale University an article criticizing civil rights policies in the early days of what would come to be known as McCarthyism.
After being recruited at UPR, Helfeld completed his post-graduate studies, obtaining an SJD degree at Yale Law School in 1954.
When former Franklin D. Roosevelt Brain Trust member and former Governor Rexford Guy Tugwell returned to UPR, Helfeld met with him and helped him draft a new United States Constitution, 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, 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 School of Law in Ponce from 1977 until 1987, when he returned to UPR on a part-time basis.
Books Helfeld, D. M., Don Jaime Benítez: su papel creador como constitucionalista y en el desarrollo de la educación legal.
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.
Articles Thomas I. Emerson and David M. Helfeld, Loyalty among government employees, 58 Yale L. J.
1 (1948)[8] David M. Helfeld, Historical prelude to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 21 Rev.
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.
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.
Helfeld, D. M. Narcotics, Puerto Rico, Public Policy: In Search of Truth and Wisdom.
Helfeld, D. M. Hacia una revisión sistemática de la obra legislativa.
Helfeld, D. M. Comentario a la ponencia del Magistrado Don Miguel Rodríguez Piñero [Discussion of Los tribunales constitucionales en Europa.
Helfeld, D. M. Congressional intent and attitude toward Public Law 600 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Helfeld, D. M. El preludio histórico a la Constitución del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico.
Helfeld, D. M. How much of the United States Constitution and Statues are applicable to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico?
Helfeld, D. M. Las relaciones constitucionales entre Puerto Rico y los Estados Unidos.
Helfeld, D. M. Toward an improved compact of association between Puerto Rico and the United States.
76, 2007, as a tribute to Dean Helfeld,[9] 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.
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.