As the United States witnesses the passing of anti-gay Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia, a lesbian has been nominated to lead Puerto Rico highest court.

Maite Oronoz Rodriguez, 39, has been nominated as chief justice of the territory's Supreme Court, making her the first openly gay chief justice anywhere in the United States.

Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla said the nomination heralded a "new time" for the country.

"It's time to strengthen justice to face the challenges [and] pass the administration of justice to present generations who will live the results."

Before Oronoz Rodriguez was appointed to the high court in 2014, she was deputy solicitor general and chief legal counselor for San Juan.

During her swearing in, she declared that her commitment "will always be with those who demand justice, regardless of race, color, gender, nationality, social origin or condition, sexual orientation or identity, or political or religious ideals."

Lambda Legal's Omar Gonzalez-Pagan said the nomination to chief justice was "a significant step towards a judiciary that reflects the growing diversity of the United States." (Hopefully President Obama was listening.)

Oronoz Rodriguez is in a relationship with Gina Mendez, chief of staff for Senate President Eduardo Bhatia.