Andre Bouchard and Leo Strine, Top two Delaware Jurists Leave Their Posts Very Early—Rumors and Speculation

OPINION

 

Dear Friends,

 

When the Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court leaves his honorable position years before his appointed term is up, and then the following year, the Chancellor of Delaware’s Court of Chancery says he’ll quit his post (in two months) years before his term expires, it raises many eyebrows, especially in a state as myopic and cronyistic as Delaware, America’s First State.

 

It is highly unusual for such departures from these prestigious and powerful positions to occur when and how they did. Former Supreme Court Justice Leo Strine and Chancellor Andre Bouchard, both connected, interestingly both of whom worked for the notorious law firm of Skadden Arps, both closely involved in the TransPerfect adjudication and Delaware Supreme Court appeal; AND BOTH chose to abruptly retire well before their time was up. The TransPerfect case involved millions of dollars in legal fees, and it is clear that certain law firms and individual lawyers profited greatly from the rulings of these two politically-appointed Judges.

 

The political process, the Governor’s appointment, the vetting, the legislative situation that takes place, and the final approval by the Senate is a big deal when these positions are filled in the State of Delaware. For these extremely powerful and prestigious positions to be vacated by connected individuals years before their terms expire is not only quiet rare, it must have many powerful people in our state worried about future changes. Many must be unsettled that their precious cronyistic, corrupt Delaware Way “secret club” and all the perks that go with it are being threatened and undermined.

 

What changes would you like to see, folks? Is the “club” crumbling from within its core? Send me your feedback. I’ll have more on this in my next column and will feature your feedback in an upcoming piece.

 

Respectfully Yours,

Judson Bennett, Coastal Network

www.coastalnetwork.com

About Judson Bennett

Captain A. Judson Bennett was a life- long resident of Lewes, DE. He served the maritime industry for 33 years, primarily as a Delaware River Pilot, guiding large ships to the Port of Philadelphia. Captain Bennett has been an active and consistent entrepreneur over the years.

He was elected as a Lewes City Councilman for 6 years. Afterwards he ran for the Sussex County Council as a Republican, and with 20 thousand people voting, lost Delaware’s closest election by 3 votes to an 8 year incumbent. Abandoning his personal political ambitions, he became the Republican District leader, advocating conservative values. Captain Bennett became a lobbyist in the state legislature advocating among many ideas, financial literacy concepts in education. He managed several political campaigns, including one for Governor of Delaware and one for the US Senate against VP Joe Biden. He is now the owner, operator, and writer for the Coastal Network which communicates regularly with over 6000 people throughout the State of Delaware.

Captain Bennett is a graduate of St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, DE (where the movie “The Dead Poet’s Society was filmed) and also graduated “Magna Cum Laude” from the University of Delaware with a BA in Criminal Justice and an MA in Liberal Studies.

He is now a Widower, living in West Palm Beach, Florida. Captain Bennett has one son, three grandchildren, and one great grand-daughter, all who live in Richmond, Virginia.