The Delaware State Courts will be closed on Tuesday, November 5th for Election Day. 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 – 12PM (no new cases after 11:00PM).

Sussex County Courts including Justice of the Peace Court 2, 4, and 17 will be closing at noon on Thursday, November 7th for Return Day. JP Court 14 will be closed the entire day due to proximity to Return Day events.

About Us


The Honorable Ferris W. Wharton, Judge


Judge Ferris W. Wharton

The Honorable Ferris W. Wharton became a Judge of the Superior Court on June 5, 2014.

Judge Wharton received his B.A. from the University of Delaware in 1974 and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1978.

From his admission to the bar in 1978 until 1980, Judge Wharton was an associate with the firm of Edward J. Sobolewski, Jr., Esquire. Judge Wharton then served with the Delaware Department of Justice from 1980 to 2003. During that time he headed the Department's Rape Response Unit, Drug Unit and Felony Trial Unit. He was also Chief Prosecutor for Kent County, Chief Prosecutor for New Castle County, State Prosecutor and Chief Deputy Attorney General. Judge Wharton was an Assistant United States Attorney from 2003 to 2006. He was of counsel to the firm of Fox Rothschild LLP from 2006 to 2007. Judge Wharton was an Assistant Public Defender from 2007 until he joined the Superior Court.

Judge Wharton was a member of the Board of Bar Examiners from 1991 to 1999 and from 2009 until he joined the bench. He served as Vice-Chair of the Board in 2012 and as Chair in 2013 and 2014. In 2011, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Judge Wharton's present term ends June 5, 2026.