Folks, we have breaking news that is good for many reasons, but the main reason, in my opinion, is that the man least-deserving to lead the Delaware Supreme Court reportedly won’t be getting the job he applied for. In my view, the cronyistic, legislating-from-the-bench, arrogant, Chancery Court, Chancellor Andre Bouchard will not be getting a promotion from his perch, according to news on Delaware.gov. And I, for one, could not be more pleased!! In my opinion (which I’ve been sharing with you folks for a long time!) he is not the man for the job.
The man who does deserve it, looks to be getting the job: Supreme Court Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr. (known as C.J.). The governor plans to appoint him as the new Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court. Our governor is also planning to promote Delaware’s first ethnically, diverse Supreme Court Justice: Tamika Montgomery-Reeves. If confirmed, Montgomery-Reeves will become the first African American to serve on the Delaware Supreme Court.
A strong “hat-tip” to “Citizens for Pro Business Delaware” for their successful lobbying efforts. I met some TransPerfect employees and many feel that certain, rich, Delaware lawyers (who were Bouchard’s friends) indirectly cut their health benefits in order to finance paying themselves millions. Those employees feel that a more diverse court would have cared more about lower-level employees living paycheck to paycheck, and would not have allowed the TransPerfect injustice to damage them as it apparently did. Bouchard and his cronies have probably never struggled to pay bills, so they should not have had the final say on TransPerfect workers.
Congrats again to TransPerfect and the Citizens for their work, which I believe helped change the history of Delaware. I’m an old guy, not too big on karma, my friends, but if there was ever karma, this is it!
Please read the story below from Delaware.gov. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced his intention to nominate Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr. to serve as the next Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court.
Justice Seitz – who since 2015 has served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court – would replace Chief Justice Leo E. Strine, Jr., who announced his retirement in July. Governor Carney also intends to nominate Vice Chancellor Tamika Montgomery-Reeves to serve as Associate Justice on the Supreme Court, replacing Justice Seitz.
Vice Chancellor Montgomery-Reeves would be the first African American to serve on the Delaware Supreme Court. The Delaware Senate is expected to consider both nominations during a special session on November 7.
“Justice Seitz is one of Delaware’s finest legal minds, and I’m pleased to send his nomination to the Delaware Senate,” said Governor Carney. “Delaware courts have a longstanding reputation across our country as objective, stable, and nonpartisan. Justice Seitz has the judgment, sense of fairness, and experience necessary to maintain and build on that reputation as our next Chief Justice. I look forward to the Senate considering his nomination.”
Justice Seitz was nominated and confirmed in 2015 to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. Previously, the Justice was a founding partner of Seitz Ross Aronstam & Moritz LLP. His practice included corporate, commercial, intellectual property, and trust litigation, as well as government law and litigation. He graduated from the University of Delaware and Villanova University School of Law.
Vice Chancellor Montgomery-Reeves was nominated and confirmed in 2015 to serve on the Court of Chancery. Before joining the judiciary, the Vice Chancellor practiced at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Wilmington, where she focused on corporate governance and business litigation. She also practiced at Weil Gotshal & Manges in New York, where she focused on corporate governance and securities litigation
“Since 2015, Vice Chancellor Montgomery-Reeves has served with distinction on Delaware’s Court of Chancery – our country’s premier venue for corporate litigation,” said Governor Carney.
“Before her appointment to the Court of Chancery, Vice-Chancellor Montgomery-Reeves practiced corporate law in Wilmington and New York. She’s the right person to serve as the next Associate Justice on our Supreme Court. I look forward to the Senate considering her nomination.”
Vice-Chancellor Montgomery-Reeves graduated from the University of Mississippi and the University of Georgia School of Law.
Judson Bennett
Author
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.
