 After being elected in a Special Election held on March 2012, Fernández became president of the Commission of Commerce and Cooperativism, as well as member of the Commissions of Government, and Woman's Affairs.Fernández ran for reelection to the Senate at the 2012 general election, but was defeated by the candidates of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD).In December 2012, Fernández was confirmed as a Superior Judge by the Senate of Puerto Rico.