Like a trained surgeon, he uses his pen with laser-like precision to separate and excise fabrication from truth and pretension from reality.  In the process, he gives life to populist causes and libertarian ideals.  Daring, gutsy, and erudite, he – like Justice Holmes – oftentimes wages lonely battles against conventional wisdom with his stirring dissents and insightful opinions. (Panganiban, Justice and Faith, p. 142)

He began to display his writing prowess in school by winning the much coveted editorship of the University of the Philippines’ Philippine Collegian in 1961. While in law school, he served as Chairman of the Law Register, and Recent Documents Editor of the Philippine Law Journal of the UP College of Law. In recognition of his campus leadership, he was given the Outstanding Award for Excellence and Leadership by the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity for the years 1960, 1961 and 1962.

In 1962, Chief Justice Puno obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Jurisprudence and Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of the Philippines (UP). In 1966, he went to the United States for his post-graduate studies. He was a grantee of a full scholarship given by the Academy of American Law for a degree of Master of Comparative Laws at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He was also awarded full scholarship by the Walter Perry Johnson Foundation for a degree of Master of Laws at the University of California in Berkeley, California. He was also given a tuition scholarship by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, from where he finished all academic requirements for the degree of Doctor of Juridical Science Degree. He was given the Doctor of Humanities degree (honoris causa) by the Philippine Wesleyan Univeristy in 1994. Justice Puno finished the degree of Master of Comparative Laws with high honors and as valedictorian of a class consisting of 23 graduate scholars from various parts of the world.

While a post-graduate student, Chief Justice Puno bagged five awards given by the Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co. of New York and the Bancroft Whitney Publishing Co. of California, namely, the American Jurisprudence Prizes for Excellence in US Constitutional Structure, Comparative Private International Law, International Organization, Problems in Doing Business Abroad and Commercial Law.

He started his professional practice in 1962 at the Gerardo Roxas and Sarmiento Law Office as Assistant Attorney. Upon his return from the United States in 1969, he joined his brother, the late Judge Isaac S. Puno, Jr., in law practice. Shortly thereafter or in 1971, he accepted the position of Solicitor in the Office of the Solicitor General. In 1972, at age 32, he was designated as Acting City Judge of Quezon City Branch II while concurrently serving as Solicitor. In 1974 at age 34, he became Assistant Solicitor General.

In 1980, at age 40, Chief Justice Puno was appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals. He was reappointed Appellate Justice of the Intermediate Appellate Court (First Special Division) on January 1983.

On November 7, 1984, Chief Justice Puno was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice. He also served Acting Chairman of the Board of Pardons and Parole.

On August 1, 1986, Chief Justice Puno resumed his judicial career. He was appointed again to the Court of Appeals.

In 1993, then President Fidel V. Ramos appointed Chief Justice Puno as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court at age 53. He is the Chairman of its Second Division. He is also chairman of the Court Systems Journal and the Supreme Court Committee which digests the Court’s decisions for distribution to members of the judiciary. Justice Puno also heads the High Court’s Committee on Revision of the Rules of Court.

He served as Bar Examiner in Criminal Law in 1970, Mercantile Law in 1989 and Taxation in 1993. He was also a Lecturer of the UP Law Center, Institute of Judicial Administration and a Professor of Law at the Far Eastern University from 1969 to 1973. He now lectures at the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA).

Chief Justice Puno has garnered the most prestigious awards in the country. Among these are: Ten Outstanding Young Men Award (TOYM), Araw ng Maynila Award as Outstanding Jurist, UP’s Most Outstanding Law Alumnus, Grand Cross of Rizal from the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Grand Lodge Gold Medal from the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines and Centennial Awardee in the field of law given by the United Methodist Church on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

The Chief Justice is actively involved in civic and church activities. He is a lay preacher of the United Methodist Church and the incumbent Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Puno Memorial United Methodist Church.

Chief Justice Puno is married to the former Supreme Court Clerk of Court Atty. Luzviminda D. Puno with whom he has three children.