About Us
The Honorable Richard F. Stokes, Resident Judge
The Honorable Richard F. Stokes became a Judge of the Superior Court of Delaware on March 23, 1999; he was appointed Sussex County Resident Judge on October 3, 2018.
Judge Stokes graduated with honors from Colgate University in 1967 and received his J.D. from Duke University in 1970 receiving an American Jurisprudence Award in criminal law.
He was a Superior Court law clerk for President Judge Albert J. Stiftel (1970-1971). He was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1970. He served as legal advisor with rank of Captain in the United States Air Force from 1971 to 1975 where he was awarded the United States Air Force Commendation Medal, and in 1975, received recognition for professional trial representation from Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and the Judge Advocate General.
Judge Stokes practiced law in Delaware since 1975 and was the managing partner of Tunnell and Raysor, P.A. He was a member of the Delaware Board of Professional Responsibility, Board of Bar Examiners, and Delaware Insurance Authority. Among other activities, he was chairman, Board of Trustees of Delaware Technical and Community College. He is a charter member of the Terry-Carey American Inn of Court. Judge Stokes also served as Resident Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Georgetown, Delaware from 1996 until 1999.
Judge Stokes' original term ended April 15, 2023; retired from Superior Court on January 31st, 2021.
