Delaware Judicial Commission seeking candidates for the State Supreme Court
Due to the retirement of former Delaware Supreme Court Justice Leo E. Strine, Jr., the Judicial Nominating Commission is seeking applications and written suggestions for a replacement to the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Strine was appointed to the portion in February 2014 by then-Governor Jack Markell and confirmed by the State Senate to succeed Chief Justice Myron Steele, who served in the position since 2014. Strine announced his retirement last July in a letter to Governor Carney. He was only the eighth Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court since it’s creation in 1951.
The appointee to replace Strine shall be admitted to the practice of law before the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware. Per Article IV, §2 of the Delaware State Constitution, the appointee must: (i) be a citizen of the State of Delaware; and (ii) learned in the law.
The position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court provides a current annual salary of $206,148.
Candidates for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court also will be considered simultaneously by the Commission for a potential derivative vacancy in the office of Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court, if a sitting Justice of the Supreme Court is nominated to be Chief Justice.
In such event, the Commission may choose not to solicit further applications for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court. The appointee shall be admitted to the practice of law before the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware, and must: (i) be a citizen of the State of Delaware; and (ii) learned in the law. The position of Justice of the Supreme Court provides a current annual salary of $197,245.
Persons who meet the legal qualifications of the office described above are invited to file with the Commission a completed copy of the “Questionnaire for Nominees for Judicial Office.”
The Questionnaire is available online at http://courts.delaware.gov/career/ under the heading “Judicial Officer Postings.”
Anyone who wishes to suggest candidates may write to the Commission. Completed Questionnaires must be received no later than 12:00 pm (noon) on Friday, Sep. 13, 2019 at the address listed below. Applicants must also email a copy of all application materials no later than 12:00 pm (noon) on Friday, Sep. 13, 2019 to JNC@delaware.gov.
Submissions that do not satisfy both requirements will not be accepted, according to the Commission, who will schedule interviews of candidates promptly thereafter.
