The Sussex County Courthouse is closed today March 28, 2024, due to a water leak.

The Delaware State Courts will be closed on Friday, March 29, 2024 in observance of Good Friday. Justice of the Peace Court 11 (New Castle County) and Court 7 (Kent County) will remain open 24 hours and Justice of the Peace Court 3 (Sussex County) will be open from 6AM-Midnight (no new cases after 11PM).

Opportunities to Serve: Supreme Court Boards, Commissions and Committees


The Delaware Supreme Court benefits greatly from the experience, expertise and wisdom of many judges, lawyers, and private citizens who accept appointments to serve on the Supreme Court’s boards, commissions and committees. These valued volunteers selflessly share their time and talents to assist the Court in the administration of justice, the regulation of the Delaware Bar, and in its ongoing efforts to improve access to justice for all Delawareans.

The Court strives for diversity in all of its appointments. It welcomes expressions of interest from those interested in serving. Appointments are made solely at the Court’s discretion, based on its determination of the experience and skills required to fill each specific position.

If you would like to be considered for an existing or future vacancy, please complete the form below and attach your resume or other biographical document

Application for Opportunities to Serve

@

Please choose below the Boards, Commissions or Committees that are of interest to you (a full description of each is at the bottom of this page):

Supreme Court Committees:

 
 
 
 
 
 

Committees of the Court on the Judiciary:

 

If you have any additional questions or would like further information please contact:

Patricia Bartley Schwartz, Esquire
Arms of the Delaware Supreme Court
405 North King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Patricia.Schwartz@delaware.gov


Supreme Court Committees

Open the accordion menus below for more information on the purpose of each board, commission or committee, and its membership requirements, web address and member list.


Board of Bar Examiners
Visit the homepage of the Board of Bar Examiners.

Purpose: The purpose of the Board of Bar Examiners is to administer Supreme Court Rules 51 through 55. These Rules govern the testing and procedures for admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware.

Membership: The Board of Bar Examiners consists of such number of members of the Delaware Bar as the Delaware Supreme Court shall determine. Each of the three counties are represented on the Board. The members are appointed for three year terms. No member may serve more than three consecutive terms.

Liaison Justice: The Honorable Gary F. Traynor
Executive Director: Patricia Bartley Schwartz, Esquire
Assistant Director: Pamela D. Brown, MPA

Board Members:

Patricia L. Enerio, Esquire (Chair)
Heyman Enerio Gattuso & Hirzel, LLP

Samuel L. Closic, Esquire (Vice Chair)
Prickett Jones Elliott, P.A.

Sarah R. Martin, Esquire (Secretary)
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, LLP

Mike Abram, Esquire
Abram & Hutchison

Rebecca E. Anderson, Esquire
Department of Justice

Sonia Augusthy, Esquire
Office of Defense Services

Barzilai K. Axelrod, Esquire
Department of Justice

Brian A. Biggs, Esquire
DLA Piper, LLP

Pauletta J. Brown, Esquire
The Chemours Company

Rebecca N. Doyle, Esquire
Doyle Law, LLC

Kelly E. Farnan, Esquire
Richards Layton & Finger, P.A.

Trisha W. Hall, Esquire
Connolly Gallagher, LLP

Jessica A. Hartwell, Esquire
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

Sabrina M. Hendershot, Esquire
Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, LLP

Douglas D. Herrmann, Esquire
Troutman Pepper

Kathi A. Karsnitz, Esquire

Haley W. King, Esquire
Delaware Department of Justice

James H. S. Levine, Esquire
Troutman Pepper

Michael P. Maxwell, Esquire
Potter Anderson & Corron, LLP

F. Troupe Mickler, Esquire
Ashby & Geddes

Lauren K. Neal, Esquire
Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell

Denise D. Nordheimer, Esquire
Fox Rothschild, LLP

Nina Pappoulis, Esquire
Elle Van Dahlgren Law, LLC

Scott W. Perkins, Esquire
Delaware Health Information Network

Roopa Sabesan, Esquire
Offit Kurman

Tetra S. Shockley, Esquire
Benton & Shockley Law, P.A

Benjamin A. Smyth, Esquire
McCarter & English, LLP

Stephen A. Spence, Esquire
Meluney Alleman & Spence, LLC

John S. Taylor, Esquire
Delaware Department of Justice

Seth L. Thompson, Esquire
Parkowski Guerke & Swayze, P.A.

Robert M. Vrana, Esquire
Young Conaway

John S. Whitelaw, Esquire
Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.

Laura D. Willis, Esquire
Hudson Jones Jaywork & Fisher, LLC

Eric H. Zubrow, Esquire
Delaware Department of Justice

Associate Board Members

Shaivlini Khemka, Esquire (Assistant Secretary)

Michael W. Andrew, Esquire
Andrew & Stevens-Gueh, LLC

Kristina G. Bensley, Esquire
Delaware Department of Justice

Jamie L. Brown, Esquire
Heyman Enerio Gattuso & Hirzel, LLP

Kristin C. Collison, Esquire
Aleman & Associates

Stephanie Dallaire, Esquire
McCarter & English, LLP

Brian V. DeMott, Esquire
McCollom D'Emilio Smith Uebler, LLC

Catherine Di Lorenzo, Esquire
Stern Eisenberg

Periann Doko, Esquire
Berger McDermott, LLP

Angela P. Flaherty, Esquire
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

Erika A. Flaschner, Esquire
Delaware Department of Justice

John Gorman, Esquire
Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP

William H. Leonard, Esquire
Delaware Department of Justice

Alex Mili, Esquire
New Castle County Register of Wills

Katharine L. Mowery, Esquire
Richards Layton & Finger, P.A.

Elizabeth Mullin, Esquire
Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell

Stacy L. Newman, Esquire
Cole Schotz, P.C.

John M. O’Toole, Esquire
Richards Layton & Finger, P.A.

Alicia A. Porter, Esquire
Benton & Shockley Law, P.A.

Jason W. Rigby, Esquire
Prickett Jones Elliott, P.A.

Karine Sarkisian, Esquire
Kennedys Law

Gina Schoenberg, Esquire
Connolly Gallagher, LLP

Dennis L. Schrader, Esquire
Delaware Department of Justice

David A. Seal, Esquire
Potter Anderson & Corron, LLP

Marcy McLaughlin Smith, Esquire
Womble Bond Dickinson, LLP

Elizabeth L. Soucek, Esquire
Ward & Taylor, LLC

Lindsay A. Taylor, Esquire
Delaware Department of Justice

Erik Towne, Esquire
Delaware Department of Justice

M. Paige Valeski, Esquire
Young Conaway

Michele D. Wenz, Esquire
Baird Mandalas Brockstedt
Federico & Cardea, LLC

Emily L. Wheatley, Esquire
Troutman Pepper

Angela Whitesell, Esquire
DLA Piper, LLP

Katelyn P. Will, Esquire
Delaware Superior Court

Mackenzie M. Wrobel, Esquire
Duane Morris, LLP

Board on Professional Responsibility
Information about filing a complaint.

Purpose: The purpose of the Board on Professional Responsibility, the Preliminary Review Committee and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel is to regulate the professional conduct of the members of the Delaware Bar. Matters heard by the Board, upon petition filed by the Office Disciplinary Counsel after approval by the Preliminary Review Committee, are subject to review by the Delaware Supreme Court.

Membership: The Board on Professional Responsibility and the Preliminary Review Committee (PRC) consist of such persons as the Delaware Supreme Court shall from time to time designate by order of appointment. The Board and PRC members are appointed for three-year terms. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms, or at the discretion of the Court. One-third of the members of the Board and the PRC are public members who are not members of the Delaware Bar and the remainder shall be members of the Delaware Bar in good standing. Each of the three counties of the State shall be represented on the Board.

Liaison Justice: The Honorable Abigail M. LeGrow

Members:

Michael A. Barlow, Esquire (Chair)
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

Joseph C. Schoell, Esquire (Vice Chair)
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

J. Clayton Athey, Esq.
Prickett, Jones & Elliott, P.A.
2nd term expires 6/30/2026

Arthur R. Bookout, Esquire
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
1st term expires 9/30/2026

Crystal L. Carey, Esquire
Schmittinger & Rodriguez, P.A.
2nd term expires 6/30/2026

William L. Chapman, Jr., Esquire
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

Marie M. Degnan, Esquire
Ashby & Geddes
1st term expires 9/30/2026

Nicole M. Faries, Esquire
Baird Mandalas Brockstedt LLC
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

Gary W. Ferguson
Public Member
2nd term extended

Edward Freel
Public Member
1st term expires 12/31/2025

Monica Gonzalez-Gillespie
Public Member
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

R. Eric Hacker, Esquire
Morris James LLP
1st term expires 9/30/2026

Randolph K. Herndon, Sr., Esquire
Randolph K. Herndon, LLC
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

Christopher M. Hutchison, Esquire
Office of Michael R. Abram, P.A.
2nd term expires 6/30/2026

Charlotte King
Public Member
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

Kenneth Kristl, Esquire
Widener University Delaware School of Law
1st term expires 9/30/2026

Kristen J. Kuipers
Public Member
2nd term expires 1/8/2027

Dr. James Magee
Public Member
1st term expires 8/31/2025

John J. Mini
Public Member
1st term expires 9/30/2026

Kenneth J. Nachbar, Esquire
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
1st term expires 12/31/2025

Dianne Rager
Public Member
1st term expires 12/31/2025

James P. Sharp, Esquire
Moore & Rutt, P.A.
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

Amy L. Simmerman, Esquire
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
1st term expires 12/31/2025

Michael L. Vild, Esquire
Cross & Simon LLC
1st term expires 9/30/2026

Melville F. Warren
Public Member
1st term expires 8/31/2025

Shavonne White
Public Member
1st term expires 8/31/2025

Lincoln D. Willis, Esquire
The Willis Group, LLC
1st term expires 9/30/2026

Jeffrey A. Young, Esquire
Young & McNelis
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

PRELIMINARY REVIEW COMMITTEE

Members:

Jerry A. Bilton
Public Member
2nd term expires 8/31/25

Jesus H. De Las Sales
YMCA of Delaware – Central Branch
1st term expires 8/31/2025

Earle C. Dempsey
Public Member
2nd term expires 1/8/2027

Brionna L. Denby, Esquire
WSFS Bank Center
2nd term expires 6/30/26

Erin K. Fitzgerald, Esquire
Curley, Dodge, Fitzgerald & Funk, LLC
1st term expires 8/31/2025

Tarik J. Haskins, Esquire
Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

Tanisha L. Merced, Esquire
Delaware Department of Insurance
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

Lakresha R. Moultrie, Esquire
Delaware State University
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

Brian M. Rostocki, Esquire
Reed Smith LLP
2nd term expires 6/30/2026

Aaron M. Shapiro, Esquire
Connolly Gallagher LLP
2nd term expires 8/31/2025

John D. Shevock, MSM, FACHE, FACMPE
Public Member
1st term expires 12/31/25

Cindy L. Szabo, Esquire
Morris James LLP
2nd term expires 8/31/2025


BOARD ON UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW SUBCOMMITTEE

Members:

J. Clayton Athey, Esq. (Chair)
Prickett, Jones & Elliott, P.A.
2nd term expires 6/30/2026

Arthur R. Bookout, Esquire (Vice Chair)
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
1st term expires 9/30/2026

Commission on Continuing Legal Education
Visit the homepage of the Commission on Continuing Legal Education.

Purpose: The purpose of the Commission on Continuing Legal Education is to ensure that minimum requirements for continuing legal education are met by Delaware attorneys in order to maintain their professional competence throughout their active practice of law.

Membership: The Commission on Continuing Legal Education consists of seven members who are appointed for three year terms by the Delaware Supreme Court. One Commission member shall be a member of the Judiciary. No more than one commission member may be a person who is not an attorney. Under the Commission's rules, it is desirable that Commission members be from various geographic areas and types of practice to reflect the diversity of the Delaware Bar.

Liaison Justice: The Honorable Karen L. Valihura

Executive Director: Stacy Hertzfeld

Members:
Laura A. Yiengst, Esquire (Chair)
Law Office of Laura A. Yiengst, LLC
(Term expires 6/9/2025)

Rebecca L. Trifillis, Esquire (Vice-Chair)
Justice of the Peace Court
(Term expires 6/9/2025)

The Honorable Robert H. Robinson, Jr.
Superior Court of the State of Delaware
(Term expires 6/9/2025)

Elizabeth S. Bradley, Esquire
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor
(Term expires 6/9/2025)

Jessie R. Benavides, Esquire
Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze
(Term expires 6/9/2025)

Donald L. Gouge, Jr., Esquire
Donald L. Gouge, Jr. LLC
(Term expires 6/9/2025)

James O. Turner, Jr., Esquire
Office of Defense Services
(Term expires 6/9/2025)

Mark Vavala (Ex Officio)
Delaware State Bar Association

Commission on Law and Technology

Purpose:

  • The Commission will meet at least quarterly to discuss technology trends and issues affecting lawyers' ethical obligations.
  • The Commission will create a knowledge bank of opinions and articles relating to ethical issues involving technology and the practice of law.
  • In addition, the Commission will create and present educational programs for Delaware lawyers on ethics and technology.

According to former Justice Ridgely, "The Court expects the Commission to become a valuable resource not only to all Delaware judges and lawyers for issues related to technology and ethics in the practice of law but also to serve as a model for other states who are interested in assisting their judges and lawyers maintain their professional competence in technology."

Supreme Court Liaison: The Honorable Karen L. Valihura

Officers:
The Honorable Karen L. Valihura, Co-Chair
Delaware Supreme Court

The Honorable Sean P. Lugg, Co-Chair
Delaware Superior Court

Judicial Members:
The Honorable Bethany Crowley
Delaware Justice of the Peace Court

The Honorable Carl C. Danberg
Delaware Court of Common Pleas

The Honorable Eric M. Davis
Delaware Superior Court

The Honorable J. Travis Laster
Delaware Court of Chancery

The Honorable Michael K. Newell
Delaware Family Court

Members:

Anthony Capone, Esq.
Office of Defense Services

Margaret (Molly) DiBianca, Esq.
Clark Hill

Kenneth Kelemen
Administrative Office of the Courts

Gregory Lane
Department of Technology Information

Ryan Newell, Esq.
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor

Gilbert Pinkett
Maron Marvel

Stephen Winer, Esq.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Christian Wright, Esq.
Department of Justice

Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection
Visit the homepage of the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection.

Purpose: The purpose of the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection is to establish, as far as is practicable, the collective responsibility of the legal profession with respect to losses caused to the public by defalcations of members of the Delaware Bar.

Members and Terms: The Court shall appoint 12 trustees to the Board. Three of the trustees shall be public members who live in Delaware and have not attended law school. Nine of the trustees shall be members of the Delaware Bar in good standing and include at least one lawyer who resides in each county. Each trustee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. No trustee shall be appointed for more than 2 consecutive terms unless the trustee is appointed Chair.

Liaison Justice: The Honorable N. Christopher Griffiths

Executive Director: Patricia Bartley Schwartz, Esquire

Assistant Director: Renee Buskirk

Members:
Benjamin A. Schwartz, Esquire (Chair)
Schwartz & Schwartz

Jason R. Antoine, Esquire
Jason R. Antoine Attorney at Law PLLC

Bunny Christopher
(Public Member)

Leslie C. DiPietro, Esquire
DiPietro Law, LLC

Jenny Donohue
(Public Member)

Shauna T. Hagan, Esquire
The Law Office of Shauna T. Hagan

Shannon D. Humiston, Esquire
McCarter & English, LLP

Paul M. Lukoff, Esquire
Emeritus

Mark Manning
(Public Member)

D. Benjamin Snyder, Esquire
Department of Justice

Tasha M. Stevens-Gueh, Esquire
Andrew & Stevens-Gueh, LLC

Kristen S. Swift, Esquire
Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby, LLP

Permanent Advisory Committee on the Delaware Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct

Purpose: It is the purpose of the Permanent Advisory Committee on the Delaware Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct to monitor these Rules, review the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and amendments or proposed amendments thereto, consider changes in the Delaware Lawyers' Rules where appropriate, draft changes suggested by the Committee and the Court, receive and consider comments from members of the Bar, Bench, and others, and consult with the Court from time to time.

Membership: The Permanent Advisory Committee on the Delaware Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct consists of eleven or more members of the Bar who shall be appointed by the Delaware Supreme Court for staggered three year terms or such other terms as the Delaware Supreme Court may determine.

Liaison Justice: The Honorable N. Christopher Griffiths

Members:

Bruce E. Jameson, Esquire (Chair)
Prickett, Jones & Elliott, P.A.
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Matthew F. Boyer, Esquire
Connolly Gallagher LLP
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Clarissa R. Chenoweth-Shook, Esquire
Balaguer, Milewski, & Imbrogno
1st term expires 5/15/25

John P. Deckers, Esquire
John P. Deckers, P.A.
1st term expires 5/15/25

Molly DiBianca, Esquire
Smith Katzenstein & Jenkins LLP
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Ian McConnel, Esquire
Corporation Service Company
1st term expires 7/14/26

Elizabeth R. McFarlan, Esquire
Department of Justice
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Luke W. Mette, Esquire
Office of Disciplinary Counsel
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Denise D. Nordheimer, Esquire
The Law Office of Denise D. Nordheimer, LLC
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Samuel L. Pratcher, Esquire
Pratcher Krayer, LLC
1st term expires 7/14/26

The Honorable Andrea L. Rocanelli
Superior Court of Delaware
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Dennis L. Schrader, Esquire
Morris James LLP
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Charles Slanina, Esquire
Finger & Slanina, LLC
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Dawn M. Williams, Esquire
Office of Defense Services
2nd term expires 5/15/25

Permanent Advisory Committee on Supreme Court Rules, Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, and Rules of Evidence

Purpose: The duties of the Permanent Advisory Committee on Supreme Court Rules, Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, and Rules of Evidence (“Supreme Court Rules Committee”) include: (i) monitoring the Supreme Court Rules, considering changes where appropriate, considering and drafting changes suggested by the Supreme Court Rules Committee and the Court, and receiving and considering comments regarding possible improvements to the Rules; (ii) establishing a Rules of Trial Procedure Advisory Subcommittee to monitor the Delaware Uniform Rules of Evidence and the various trial courts’ Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure and to consult with the rules committees of the trial courts in an effort to ensure the efficiency, fairness, and consistency of these rules; and (iii) making recommendations and performing such other duties as the Court and Chief Justice find helpful in fulfilling their responsibilities under § 13 of Article 4 of the Delaware Constitution.

Membership: The Supreme Court Rules Committee consists of members of the Bar appointed by the Court for such terms as the Court shall determine. One of the members shall be designated as chair. The chair may appoint ad hoc members of the Supreme Court Rules Committee in consultation with the Court, for specific purposes when that will aid in the accomplishment of the Supreme Court Rules Committee’s duties.

Liaison Justice: The Honorable Collins J. Seitz, Jr.

Members:

Megan Ward Cascio, Esquire (Chair)
Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP
4th term expires 11/26/26

Corinne E. Amato, Esquire
Prickett Jones & Elliott, P.A.
2nd Term expires 8/29/25

Adam L. Balick, Esquire
Balick & Balick, LLC
4th Term expires 1/1/26

Michael A. Barlow, Esquire
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
3rd Term expires 9/22/25

Patrick J. Collins, Esquire
Collins & Associates
2nd Term expires 8/29/25

Mark F. Dunkle, Esquire
Parkowski Guerke & Swayze, PA
4th Term expires 5/22/25

Erin Fitzgerald, Esquire
Curley, Dodge, Fitzgerald, & Funk, LLC
1st Term expires 1/1/26

Richard A. Forsten, Esquire
Saul Ewing LLP
5th Term expires 5/22/25

Kelly Dunn Gelof, Esquire
Tunnell & Raysor, P.A.
2nd Term expires 9/5/24

R. Eric Hacker, Esquire
Morris James LLP
1st Term expires 8/5/25

Thomas E. Hanson, Jr., Esquire
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
4th Term expires 1/1/26

Sean A. Meluney, Esquire
Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP
1st Term expires 8/5/25

Elizabeth Powers, Esquire
Bayard, P.A.
1st Term expires 8/5/25

Samuel D. Pratcher, Esquire
Pratcher Krayer LLC
1st Term expires 11/26/26

Srinivas M. Raju, Esquire
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
1st Term expires 11/26/26

Kevin R. Shannon, Esquire
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
3rd Term expires 1/1/25

Tasha M. Stevens-Gueh, Esquire
Andrew & Stevens-Gueh, LLC
1st Term expires 11/26/26

Andrew J. Vella, Esquire
Department of Justice
3rd Term expires 9/22/25

Nicole Marie Walker, Esquire
Office of Public Defender
3rd Term expires 1/1/25

Neilli M. Walsh, Esquire
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
3rd Term expires 1/1/25


Committee of the Court on the Judiciary


Visit the homepage of the Preliminary Investigatory Committee.

Purpose: The Preliminary Investigatory Committee investigates complaints against judicial officers and makes written findings and recommendations to the Court on the Judiciary. When a complaint states a claim within the jurisdiction of the Court, the Chief Justice will designate a panel of up to three members of the Preliminary Investigatory Committee to investigate a complaint.

Membership: The Preliminary Investigatory Committee has twelve members. Eight are members of the Delaware Bar and four are non-lawyer residents of Delaware from diverse backgrounds. Each member serves up to a four-year term and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

Liaison Justice: The Honorable Chief Justice Seitz

Lawyer Members:

Don C. Brown, Esquire
2nd term expires April 2027

Hon. Richard R. Cooch
1st term expires October 2024

Henry E. Gallagher, Jr., Esquire
2nd term expires September 2024

Rebecca Batson Kidner, Esquire
1st term expires October 2024

Glenn C. Mandalas, Esquire
1st term expires September 2026

Hon. Henry duPont Ridgely
1st term expires October 2024

David N. Rutt, Esquire
1st term expires September 2026

Tetra S. Shockley, Esquire
1st term expires October 2024

Non-Lawyer Members:

Jennifer Cohan
1st term expires October 2024

Michael J. Quaranta
2nd term expires April 2027

Michael Ratchford
1st term expires September 2026

Juanita Wilson
1st term expires September 2026