Delaware Supreme Court Justice James Vaughn announces retirement

Delaware Supreme Courtroom Justice James T. Vaughn introduced his retirement Tuesday. Vaughn intends to step down from the court docket in Could.

Vaughn joined Delaware’s highest court docket in October 2014, appointed by former Gov. Jack Markell. He beforehand served because the President Choose of the Superior Courtroom.

Vaughn started his authorized profession in non-public follow, becoming a member of the bench in 1998 because the resident choose of the Kent County Superior Courtroom. He’s the son of former state Senator and Delaware Corrections Commissioner James T. Vaughn Sr.

Gov. John Carney will nominate a alternative for Vaughn; that alternative have to be confirmed by the Senate.

Vaughn’s retirement comes within the wake of President Joe Biden nominating Justice Tamika Montgomery-Reeves to serve on the US Courtroom of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Reeves’ appointment continues to be awaiting affirmation within the US Senate.

Each Vaughn and Reeves are Democrats, that means Carney must appoint at the least one Democrat to stick to Delaware’s bare-majority rule, which prohibits any partisan majority of a couple of seat on the state Supreme Courtroom. Chief Justice Collin Seitz Jr. would be the solely remaining Democrat on the court docket when Vaugn and Reeves depart.