Judicial Officers
There are nine Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas statewide. Five Judges are residents of New Castle County, two Judges
are residents of Kent County, and two Judges are residents of Sussex County.
Each Judge is nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for
a term of 12 years. To be nominated for the position, each Judge must
have been actively engaged in the general practice of law in the State
of Delaware for at least five years and must be a citizen of the State.
A majority of not more than one Judge may be from the same political party.
The same process is used to appoint the Chief Judge.
The Court has two Commissioners, one assigned to New Castle
County, and the second Commissioner for Kent and Sussex Counties. The
Commissioners have the power to accept pleas, conduct violation of probation
hearings, preliminary hearings, petition for change of name and other
non case-dispositive matters.
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