Retired Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy J. Holland has died. He was 75. Holland was appointed and reappointed to the Delaware Supreme Court by three different governors and served with four different chief justices during his tenure on the bench. At his appointment to the stateâs Supreme Court in 1986 by Gov. Mike Castle, Holland became the youngest person ever …
Politicians react to court striking absentee, early voting lawsÂ
A ruling by the Delaware Superior Court that restricts early and absentee voting â a highly contentious aspect of the 2020 Presidential Election â has state leaders reacting on party lines. Judge Mark Conner ruled Friday in favor of former state attorney general Jane Bradyâs suit that laws passed by the General Assembly â over objections that they were not …
State courts to allow cellphones in, with a few restrictions
The Delaware Judiciary officially took another step toward the 21st century Thursday: The courts announced visitors will be allowed to bring cellphones and other personal electronics into all court facilities starting June 1, with some restrictions. The move widens a pilot program that started in February 2o22 and represents a major shift in court policy that for years has prevented …
Longest-serving Superior Court judge to retire
Delaware’s longest-serving Superior Court judge will retire after 30 years on the bench, court administrators announced Wednesday. Judge William Carpenter Jr. will step down Dec. 31, 2022, he said in a letter to Gov. John Carney in October. âWhile it is always difficult to walk away from a job that you have found so rewarding, my time has come,â Carpenter …
Ground broken on new Kent County Family Court
Just three months after the groundbreaking of Sussex Countyâs new Family Court building, officials gathered in Dover Thursday to kick off construction of Kent Countyâs Family Court. The $117.7 million, three-story, 106,711 square-foot building, located at the corner of South Governors Avenue and Water Street, will be more than three times larger than the existing courthouse â expansion officials say …
Mail-in voting lawsuits set for court hearing Wednesday
Two lawsuits challenging Delawareâs mail-in voting system will be the subject of a hearing in the Delaware Court of Chancery Wednesday. The suits were brought on behalf of numerous plaintiffs by GOP chair Jane Brady and Republican candidate for attorney general Julianne Murray. Brady and Murray are representing the plaintiffs in their capacities as private attorneys â not on behalf …
Fate of Elon Musk’s Twitter purchase up to Delaware court
A Delaware judge will decide whether Elon Musk should be forced to follow through with his $44 billion acquisition of social media giant Twitter. Musk offered to purchase Twitter on April 14, 2022, after previously acquiring 9.1% of the companyâs stock, becoming its largest shareholder. On July 8, he terminated the deal, claiming that Twitter breached their agreement by refusing …
Carney’s Chancery Court nomination draws fire from activists
Gov. John Carney on Friday nominated Wilmington lawyer Nathan A. Cook to serve on the Delaware Court of Chancery. He also nominated Kelly Hicks Sheridan to serve as a commissioner for the Family Court in New Castle County. Cook, managing partner of Block & Levitonâs Delaware office, was chosen to replace Joseph R. Slights III, who retired in …
Carney appoints Black woman to New Castle Superior Court
Gov. John Carney will nominate a black lawyer to the Superior Court in New Castle County, one day after the first Black woman was confirmed for the U.S. Supreme Court. Patricia A. Winston, a partner at Morris James in Wilmington since 2017, focused on a range of corporate and commercial issues. The Delaware Senate is expected to consider her …
Delaware courtsâ diversity plan supports law school at DSU
The Delaware Supreme Court will begin considering the 50 suggestions in a new report on increasing diversity on state courts. The Delaware courtsâ new report on improving diversity includes 50 action points that stretch from pre-college years through promoting diversity recruitment for judicial positions in a variety of ways. It never alludes to the Delaware Way or a good old …