The Honorable Richard R. Cooch became a Judge of the Superior Court of Delaware on August 31, 1992 upon appointment of Governor Michael N. Castle. Prior to that time, Judge Cooch had been a practicing lawyer with the Wilmington, Delaware law firm of Cooch and Taylor for 15 years. He was its Managing Director from 1988 to 1992.

He was then appointed Resident Judge for New Castle County by Governor Thomas R. Carper and assumed that office on May 11, 2000. He was reappointed by Governor Jack Markell in June 2012 to a second 12 year term as Resident Judge.

Resident Judge Cooch graduated from Wilmington Friends School in 1966, received his B.A. from Williams College in 1970, and was awarded his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1973. He was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1973. He served as Deputy Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the State of Delaware Department of Justice from 1974-1977. He was attorney for the Delaware House of Representatives 1979-1981.

Resident Judge Cooch was Assistant Treasurer of the Delaware State Bar Association (1985-1987) and Treasurer (1987-1989). He has served on various committees of the Delaware State Bar Association including its Executive Committee. He has served as a member and chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Litigation Ethical Problems, has served as a member and chair of the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee and was a former chair of the Superior Court Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions. He is a former Judicial member of the Commission on Continuing Legal Education. He is a member of the Richard S. Rodney Inn of Court, is a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Judicature Society and now serves on the Advisory Committee to the National Center for State Courts Center for Judicial Ethics.

Resident Judge Cooch retired on December 31, 2019.

(original term date was scheduled to end on January 26, 2024)