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I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :
Governor Honors Employees for Heroism 4
Judicial Branch Employees Recognized 5
New Judges Take Office 6
Family Court Commission-ers Join the Bench 7
Courts Mourn Death of Judge Vincent A. Bifferato, Sr.
7
Delaware Judiciary Recognized 8
Superior Court Veterans Court Hosts Training 9
Family Court Launches Enhancement Project 10
Students Visit New Castle County Courthouse 11
Singapore’s Chief Justice Visits Delaware Courts
11
Office of Chief Justice and Administrative Office of the Courts Relocate
12
Second Sisters in Success Conference 13
U.S. Marshal Papili Recognized 13
Delaware Mock Trial Competition 14
Update to Chancery Trust Accounting Procedures 14
Law Day 2014 15
OSCCE Expands Kiosks 15
Judicial Ethics Expert at Family Court 16
Superior Court Rule 61 16
Justice of the Peace Court Holds Fairness Training 17
JIC Upgrades to Windows 17
William Penn v. Lord Baltimore on the Road 18
Kent Courty Family Court Mural 19
Superior Court’s Mental Health Unit Launches Peer Mentor Program
19
NCCCH Lobby Gets Facelift 20
In his irst State of the Judiciary address,Chief Justice Leo E. Strine, Jr., laid out hispriorities for the Judicial Branch tomem-bers of the Bench and Bar at the annualmeetingonJune4,2014.Tomeetthechal-lengesofthefuture,theChiefJusticeiden-ti iedthefollowinggoals: Enhanceoptions for cost-effective and
timelydisputeresolutionpractices; Maximizeuseoflimitedresources; Identify lexible funding solutions for
JudicialBranchneeds; Increase investment in employees, in-
frastructure,andtechnology; ImproveaccesstojusticeforDelaware
citizens;and Addresswork/lifebalanceissues.The Chief Justice opened his speech bystressing the importance of workingwiththelegalcommunitytodevelopmoreinno-vative ways to do business. “We got towherewearetodaybecauseourpredeces-sorspreparedtomeetthechallengesofthefuture.Thelegacytheyleftuscomeswiththe corresponding responsibility to act asstewardsforcominggenerations,”saidtheChiefJustice.
InvolvingtheBarandOurConstituentsinSettinganAgendafortheFuture
To help meet those challenges, Chief Jus-tice Strine announced plans to conduct a
comprehensive review of Judicial Branchoperations. The Delaware Chapter of theAmericanCollegeofTrialLawyers(ACTL),with input from leaders of the DelawareStateBarAssociation(DSBA)andpartner-ingwiththeJudicialBranch,willconductasurvey giving practitioners the chance toprovide con idential input about how thecourtsystemisdoinginallofthekeyprac-tice areas. The goal of this “ground-up”approach is todevelop the framework fora policy agenda to address long-termneeds and “further enhance the type ofBench-BarcollaborationthatisahallmarkofDelaware’slegaltradition.”Whilethisprocessiscriticaltohelpingsetthelong-termagendafortheJudiciary,theChief Justice also outlined certain criticalissues that need immediate focus and at-tention.MeetingtheBusinessWorld’sNeedfor
Cost‐EffectiveandTimelyDisputeResolution
MaintainingandgrowingDelaware’srepu-tation for being the premier venue to ad-dress the business world’s need for costeffective and timely dispute resolutionmustbea toppriority. Delaware’sappeal“to thosewho form entities in the UnitedStates…is clear from the fact that 83% ofdomesticIPO’slastyearinvolvedDelawareentities,” said Strine. But, he warned,
DELAWARE DOCKET “The Newsletter of the Delaware Judiciary”
Summer 2014
PhotographbyJackFoley
ChiefJusticeStrinePressesforInnovativeApproachtoFutureChallengesFacingJudicialBranch
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“advantage must be earned constantly”, particularlywherethereisseriousnationalandinternationalcom-petitionforbusiness.The Chief Justice noted that theGovernor, the Corpo-rateLawCouncil,andkeysectionsoftheBar,withas-sistance from the Courts, are working on new initia-tives to add to “Delaware’s proven ability to help re-solvecommercialdisputesswiftlyandexpertly”byof-fering business entities a “cost-effective, voluntarymeanstoresolvebusinessdisputes…iftheyarewillingto forego the costs of lengthy proceedings and full-blowndiscovery.” Thepurpose is toattractentrepre-neursaroundtheworldtoformentitiesinDelawarebypromoting Delaware’s well-developed corporate lawand ability to deliver “well-reasoned decisions withrealworldbusinessspeed.”ManagingOurLimitedResourcesMoreEffectively
Recognizing the likelihood of continued modest staterevenue growth, the Chief Justice stressed the im-portanceoflearningtodomorewithless-challengingthe Judiciary to consider newways of doing businessthrough technology and rethinking old processes, in-cludingthefollowing: Consistent statewide problem‐solving courts:
establish consistent, statewide standards andbenchmarks for operations in problem-solvingcourtsbasedonobjectivecriteria.
CriminalJusticesystem:rethinkwaystodeployscarce treatment resources to reduce recidivismandimprovetheconsistencyofsentencesforsimi-larlysituatedoffenders.
GivingtheJudicialBranchtheAutonomyand
FlexibilitytoOperateMoreEf icientlyandEffectively
TheChiefJusticecalledformoreautonomyand lexibil-itywith Judicial Branch funding. The Judicial Branchcontinues to look forways to fund initiativeswithoutincreased reliance on the General Fund. “To do that,however,wealsoneedtohavethecorresponding lexi-bility to deploy non-General Fund sources of revenueourselves and on a dependable basis,” said the ChiefJustice. Hecontinued, “Ifwecan implement thatcon-
ceptwiththeGovernorandJointFinanceCommitteeingood faith, there is room for us to make needed im-provements in key areas such as technology and ourhumancapitalwithlessburdentostatetaxpayers.”
InvestingInOurKeyCapital:OurEmployees
“The highest priority of our Judiciary this year… is toobtainsomeincreaseincompensationforouremploy-ees,”saidStrine.FocusingparticularlyonWilmington-basedemployees,theChiefJusticenotedthattheseem-ployeeshavebeentreatedinequitablybecausetheyareforcedtopayforparkingwhenemployeesinotherlo-cationshavefreeparking.TheaveragewageforaNewCastle County Courthouse employee is between$30,000and$40,000ayear,whiletheannualcost forparking in Wilmington is approximately $1,500. Onthispoint,ChiefJusticeStrinestatedthatthisisnotjustaquestionoffairness,“weenduplosinggoodemploy-ees to other better-paying, less stressful jobs.” HeaskedourpartnersinotherBranchestohelpsolvethisproblem.
Digni iedandSafeCourthousesAreEssentialtoDoingJustice
ChiefJusticeStrineemphasizedtheneedtoreinvestinphysicalcapital,pointingtothesubstandardconditionsattheFamilyCourtinSussexandKentCounties.Inhisspeech, Strine said, “We are open to new modes ofthinking, including the possibility of meeting futureneedsbybuildingasinglehighqualityfacilityinaloca-tion convenient to citizensofboth counties andusingthat facility in concertwith smaller sites in the tradi-tional county seats to handle other less security-sensitivecases.”
TheSmartUseofTechnology
Chief Justice Strine challenged the Judicial Branch toembracetechnologyinaneffectivewaytomaintainitscompetitiveadvantage inachangingworld. In sodo-ing,theChiefJusticesignaledhisintentiontoseeksup-port from the General Assembly and the Governorthrough a stable and predictable technology fundingplantoincludeseveralkeyelements:
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createastatewidehighqualitye- ilingsystemforbothcivilandcriminalcases; developacomprehensivecasemanagementsystemthroughapublic-privatepartnershipapproachatanet
bene it,notcost,tostatetaxpayers; identifyoneeffectiveapproachtoredesigningcourtpaper- lowprocessesforallofthecourts;and deployconsistent Judiciary-wideapproaches topurchasingandreplacingtechnologytosecurecostsavings
andserviceef iciencies.
IncreasingAccesstoJusticeforOrdinaryPeople
ChiefJusticeStrinenotedtheimportantworkoftheupcomingAccesstoJusticeCommissionwhichwillexploreanumberofinitiativesaimedatensuringaccesstojusticeforallDelawarecitizens: ensurethattheorganizationsthatprovidelegalservicestothepoorarecoordinatedanddeploylimitedre-
sourcesef iciently; explorecreativemeanstoaddressfundinggaps; encourageincreasedprobonoservicefromtheBar; createtrainingopportunitiesandadditionalresourcestosupportsoloandsmallpractices; confronttheeconomicrealitiesthatmakeitdif icultforlawyerstoprovidelegalservicestomiddleclasscli-
ents; examinewhether representationbyparaprofessionals,ormore limited formsof representationby lawyers
themselves,isappropriateincertainareasofcriticalneed,suchasfamilylaworlandlord-tenantlaw;and considerwhatstepstheJudicialBranchmighttaketoaddressthedisturbingracialdisparityofcitizenswho
areincarcerated.
MakingItEasierToBeaLawyerandaGoodSpouseandParent
TheChiefJusticealsoremarkedontheever-increasingdemandonlawyersbyclientsseekingquickresponsestocomplicatedquestions.Withtheonslaughtof24/7technology“[n]ohourofthedayisleftforlawyerstobewiththeir families,undisturbedbyclientandbusiness interruption.” TheACTLwillexplore through itssurvey“thewaysinwhichthecourtsmighthelplawyersstrikeabetterwork-lifebalance…withoutdiminishingthequalityweallexpectofourselves.“
Inclosing,Chief JusticeStrine thanked themembersof theBar for their service tothepublicandthecauseofjustice.“Without the continued dedication of an amazing Bar of lawyers, our statewouldnotbeasprosperousandnothave thereputation ithas,”said theChiefJustice.
Formoreinformation,pleasecontactPatriciaGrif inatpatricia.grif [email protected].
P a g e 4 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
GOVERNOR HONORS CAPITOL POLICE AND JUDICIAL BRANCH EMPLOYEES FOR COURAGEOUS
ACTS DURING COURTHOUSE SHOOTING
OnMay8,2014,GovernorJackA.MarkellandLieuten-ant Governor Matt Denn recognized the recipients oftheDelawareAwardforExcellenceandCommitmentinState Service in a ceremony inDover at theDelawareTechnical Community College’s Terry Campus. Alsorecognized were the very irst recipients of the Dela-wareAwardforHeroism.Establishedin2013,theDel-aware Award for Heroism recognizes acts of heroismandcourageamongmembersof theState’s legislative,executive, or judicial branches. Recipients mustdemonstrate exceptional judgment and courage in apotentially serious situation, outside the scope of anemployee’snormaljobfunctions,whetherornottheactwasperformedduringworkinghours.SupremeCourtChiefJusticeLeoE.Strine,Jr.,PresidentJudge James T. Vaughn, Jr., State Court AdministratorPatricia W. Grif in, Deputy State Court AdministratorAmy Quinlan, Superior Court Administrator MaureenFrederick,andSuperiorCourtChiefBailiffRobertHas-tings were on hand to congratulate the Capitol Policeof icers and Judicial Branch employeeswhowere rec-ognized for their courageous actions during the NewCastle County Courthouse shooting one year ago. Onanygivenday,theNewCastleCountyCourthousewel-comes over 200 jurors assembling for jury duty, 650employeesreporting forwork,andhundredsofotherswhoareconductingbusinessorattendinghearings.OnFebruary11,2013,atapproximately8:15A.M.,bulletsrangoutinthelobby,theactionsofalonegunman.Ju-dicial Branch2014Employee of the Year, JoseE.Her-
nandez, Court Security Of icer I, Superior Court, a 12-year veteran of the Superior Court security team,wasoneofthe irstsecurityof icersonthescenetorenderaid to the two female victims of the fatal courthouseshooting.The collective actions of Capitol Police of icers Ser-geantMichaelManley; Corporal Steven Rinehart; Cor-poral Arlene Redman; Senior Corporal Scott Simpson;Master Corporal Lori Templin; Senior Security Of icerDarryl Smith; Senior Security Of icer Maureen McGill-Jones;SeniorSecurityOf icerYvetteMiller;DispatcherIsaac Vaughn; the late Senior SecurityOf icer StephenGreen;andnowretiredLieutenantR.MarshallMartine,andDavidBrezenski,SocialServiceSpecialistwith theAdministrativeOf iceoftheCourts,exemplifythequali-ties recognized by the Delaware Award for Heroism.When the shooting began, the Capitol Police of icerstaskedwithprotectingthecourthousereactedimmedi-ately,helping those in thecourthouse lobbygetoutofthe direct line of ire, shielding individuals with theirownbodies,pursuingtheshooter,and,ultimately,end-ingtheshootingrampage.
Mr.Brezenskiwasstaf ingtheInformationDeskintheCourthouse lobby andplaced a call to theWilmingtonPolice Department despite being in the direct line ofirewhentheshootingbegan.Mr.Brezenskigaveanon-going,real-timeaccountoftheshootingasitoccurred,providing critical information to responding police of-icers as they made their way to the Courthouse.
Jose Hernandez, Judicial Branch 2014 Employee of the Year (center),receiving an award from Governor Markell and Lieutenant GovernorDenn,picturedwithChiefJusticeStrine(secondfromleft)andPresidentJudgeVaughnontheright.
DavidBrezenski(center),arecipientoftheDelawareforHeroismAward,picturedwith(fromleft)PresidentJudgeVaughn,StateCourtAdministra-torPatGrif in,LieutenantGovernorDenn,DeputyCourtAdministratorAmyQuinlan,GovernorMarkell,andChiefJusticeStrine.
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Honored to receive the award, Mr. Brezenski wantednonetheless to recognize his colleague, Aida Torres,whoworkedbesidehimthatmorning. “Aidadeservesasmuchpraiseas Ido. Shestayedbesidemewhile Iplaced the call and did not leave until I was inishedandwewereabletogotoasafelocation.”
WethankOf icerHernandez,CapitolPolice,and David Brezenski for their quick re-sponsesandwillingnesstoplacethesafetyandsecurityofothersovertheirown.
Formoreinformation,pleasecontactAmyQuinlanatamy.quinlan.state.de.us
JUDICIALBRANCHEMPLOYEESRECOGNIZEDJose E. Hernandez, Court Security Of icer I, Superior Court, was named the2013JudicialBranchEmployeeoftheYear.Mr.HernandezisatwelveyearveteranoftheSuperiorCourtsecurityteamandwasrecognizedforhisunfailinglycourteousandcalmdemeanor inthecourtroom. One juror,afterservingonatrialforwhichMr.Hernandezwasthebailiff,notedthathe isa“remarkablebailiff.” Hetakeshisjobseriouslyand,whenheisinacourtroomwithajudgeandjury,theyarehis irstpriority.
RuthJones,SocialServiceSpecialistIII,FamilyCourt.Ms.JoneswasselectedasFamilyCourtEmployeeoftheYear forherconsistentandoutstandingdedicationandsupport inprovidingservices to thepublic. Onmanyocca-sions,shewillhandleincominglitigantswhilealsocoveringotherresponsibilitiessuchasjuvenilebails. Inaddition,Ms.JonesprovidesaninvaluableservicetoSpanish-speakinglitigantsbyprovidingtheminstructionsanddirection.EvelynTatum,ManagementAnalystII,CourtofCommonPleas. Ms.Tatum continuallyexceedstheexpecta-tionsofherdailyjobduties.ShevolunteerstoserveastheCaseManagerfortheCourt’sTraumaInformedProbationProgram.Wherethereisworktobedoneoraprojecttobeundertaken,Ms.Tatumisalwaysreadyandwillingtolendahand.Shehasapositiveattitudeandremarkableworkethicwhichhashadaninvaluableimpactonhercoworkers.Ms.Tatumexempli ieswhatitmeanstobeateamplayer.IreneFreeman,JudicialCaseProcessorIII,JusticeofthePeaceCourt. Ms.Freemanhas beenanemployeeoftheJudicialBranchfor ifteenyears.Shetrulydemonstrateswhatitmeanstobeasuperiorleaderandteambuilder.Shehandlesnotonlyhersupervisoryduties,butclerkdutiesaswell.Sheisproactiveinherwork,ensuringthatcasesgetpromptlycorrectedincaseoferrors.Shehasexceptionalorganizationskills,isloyal,andoftenworksbeyondherjobdescription.Ms.Freemanalwayshasasmileonherfaceandherlaughiscontagious.MariaPerez‐Chambers,Coordinatorof theCourt InterpreterProgram,AdministrativeOf iceof theCourts.TheStateofDelawareCourtInterpreterProgramwasthe2013winneroftheJohnNeufeldAward.Thisawardrecog-nizesDelaware’sstatewidelanguageaccessprogramandthestrongleadershiprolethatDelawarehastakenontheissueof languageaccessatthenational level. Ms.Perez-Chamberswas instrumental indevelopingthenewLimitedLegalAssistanceProgramforlimitedEnglish-pro icientlitigantsandisateamplayerandavaluableassettotheAOC.Sheisnevertoobusytoofferherassistance,adeptlyhandlesanyissuethatarises,andalwaysdoesherworkwithasmile. Formoreinformation,[email protected].
Otheremployeesnominated for thisaward,andwhowerehonoredastheEmployeeoftheYearfortheirrespectivecourts,are:
P a g e 6 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
SUPERIORCOURT—TheHonorableJudgeFerrisW.Whartonwassworninforhis irsttermasJudgeoftheSuperiorCourtofDelawareonFriday,July11,2014.ParticipantsintheceremonyincludedJamesT.Vaughn,Jr.,PresidentJudgeoftheSuperiorCourt,whoadminis-tered theoathof of ice,membersof JudgeWharton’s familywhoassistedwith the robingand led the Pledge of Allegiance, aswell as Lt. GovernorMatthewDenn, State ProsecutorKathleenJennings,andPublicDefenderJ.BrendanO’Neillwhomaderemarks.JudgeWhartonservedasanAssistantPublicDefender from2007untilhisappointmenttotheSuperiorCourt.Priortothat,hewasofcounseltothe irmofFoxRothschildLLPandanAssistantUnitedStatesAttorney from2003 to2006. JudgeWhartonservedwith theDela-wareDepartmentofJusticefrom1980to2003asChiefDeputyAttorneyGeneral,StatePros-ecutor,ChiefProsecutorforKentCounty,ChiefProsecutorforNewCastleCounty,aswellas
headoftheDepartment’sRapeResponseUnit,DrugUnit,andFelonyTrialUnit.JudgeWhartonwasalsoamemberoftheBoardofBarExaminersfrom1991to1999,andfrom2007untilhisappointmenttotheBench.HeisaFellowoftheAmericanCollegeofTrialLawyers.JudgeWhartonreceivedhisundergraduatedegreefromtheUniversityofDelawarein1974andhislawdegreefromtheUniversityofIllinoisCollegeofLawin1978.
NEW JUDGES TAKE OFFICE
SUPREMECOURT—TheHonorableKarenValihurawas sworn in for her irst term asJusticeof theSupremeCourtofDelawareonFriday, July25,2014. Chief JusticeLeoE.Strine, Jr., administered theoathofof iceandremarksweremadebyGovernor JackA.MarkellandEdwardP.Welch,Esquire,headof theWilmingtonof iceofSkadden,Arps,Slate,Meagher&Flom,LLP.PriortoherappointmenttotheSupremeCourt, JusticeValihurawasapartneratSkad-den,Arps,Slate,Meagher&Flom,LLP,whereshepracticedlawsince1989.Herpracticeincomplexcommercialandcorporate issues includedfederalandstatesecurities fraudclaims,mergersandacquisitions,and iduciarydutiesofdirectors. Duetoherpreeminenceinthe ield,JusticeVali-hurahasbeenconsistentlyselectedforinclusioninChambersUSA:America’sLeadingLawyersforBusinessandTheBestLawyersinAmerica.JusticeValihuraservedontheAdvisoryBoardoftheJohnL.WeinbergCenterforCorporateGovernanceandservedtwotermsontheSupremeCourt’sBoardofProfessionalResponsibilityand iveyearsontheCourt’sPermanentEthicsAdvisoryCommitteeontheDelawareLawyerRulesofProfessionalConduct.Additionally,JusticeValihuraservedhercommunityasamemberoftheBoardofDirectorsfortheDelawareSpecialOlympicsforeighteenyearsandasamem-beroftheDelawareBarFoundationforeightyears.JusticeValihurareceivedherundergraduatedegreefromWash-ingtonandJeffersonCollegein1985andherlawdegreefromtheUniversityofPennsylvaniaLawSchool.Shewasad-mittedtotheDelawareBarin1989.COURTOF CHANCERY—The Court of Chancery sat in specialsessionintheNewCastleCountyCourthousefortheinvestitureoftheHonorableAndreG.BouchardonMay23,2014asChan-cellor of theCourtofChanceryofDelaware. Governor Jack A.Markell and United States Senator Thomas R. Carper spoke attheinvestitureceremonyandChiefJusticeLeoE.Strine,Jr.,con-ducted the oath of of ice. Bouchard was sworn in as the 22ndChancellor of the Court during a private ceremony on May 5,2014.ChancellorBouchardreceivedhis J.D. fromHarvardLawSchool.Priortohisappointment,ChancellorBouchardspent28years in private practice andmost recentlywas themanagingpartnerofBouchardMargulesandFriedlander,P.A.,acorporateandcommerciallitigationboutiquehefounded.
ChancellorBouchardwithotherjudgesontheCourtofChancery,afterbeingswornin.
P a g e 7 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
TheHonorable Angela Fowler was sworn in for her irst term asCommissioner of theFamilyCourtofDelaware on April 11, 2014.The Honorable Chandlee Johnson Kuhn, Chief Judge of the FamilyCourt, administered the oath of of ice and Commissioner Fowler’sfamilyandfriendsledthePledgeofAllegianceandassistedwiththerobing. Beforeherappointment,CommissionerFowlerservedasaHearingOf icer fortheIndustrialAccidentBoardsince2009. Priorto that,shewasaDeputyChildAdvocate for theOf iceof theChildAdvocateforeightyearsandaDeputyAttorneyGeneral.Since2001,CommissionerFowlerhasheld thepositionofAdjunctProfessoratWilmingtonUniversity. Forthepastthreeyears,shehasalsobeenanAdjunctInstructoratDelawareTechnicalandCommunityCollege.TheHonorableParaK.Wolcottwassworninforher irsttermasaCommissioneroftheFamilyCourtofDelawareinApril2014. CommissionerWolcottbeganhercareer inthejudiciaryasa lawclerkwithFamilyCourtoftheStateofDelaware(2005-2006).From2006untilherappointment,theCommissionerworkedasDeputyAttorneyGeneralwiththeDepartmentofJusticeintheDomesticViolenceUnit,theVehicularCrimesUnit,theMajorCrimesUnitoftheCrimi-nalDivision,andtheMisdemeanorTrialUnit.CommissionerWolcottalsorepresentedtheDivisionofFamilyServicesandlitigatedchildabuse,dependencyandneglectcases.
FAMILYCOURTCOMMISSIONERSJOINTHEBENCH
CommissionerFowler(center)picturedwithherhusband,GaryFowler,Jr.andChiefJudgeKuhn.
TheCourtsMourntheDeathofJudgeVincentA.Bifferato,Sr.
JudgeBifferatoservedontheSuperiorCourtbenchfrom1968until2000.JudgeBiff, ashewaslovinglyreferredtointhecourthouse,wasalegallioninDelaware.BeforehereturnedtoprivatepracticeheservedastheNewCastleCountyResidentJudgeforthelasteightyearsatcourt. Judge Biff enjoyed the camaraderie of the other judges and the unique and diversebackgroundsofthosewhoappearedbeforehim.Heespeciallyenjoyedmentoringyounglaw-yersandthoseinlawschool.HeservedasanadjunctprofessoratWidenerSchoolofLawandbeganaprogramoffreeseminarsforyounglawyers,whichlaterbecameknownasthe"JudgeVincentBifferatoSuperiorCourtTrialPracticeForum."Evenafterhe left thebench,hewas
alwaysawillingandreadyresource.AfterretiringfromtheSuperiorCourtin2000,hejoinedhistwosonsinpri-vatepractice,focusingonalternativedisputeresolution.Inhisretirementhequicklydevelopedapassionfortrav-eling to Italy.Beforehisdeathhehad theopportunity to reconnectwithhis father's familynearlyone-hundredyearsafterhisfatherimmigratedtotheUnitedStates.“As recent days have demonstrated, Judge Bifferato was probably the most beloved judge of ourtime.JudgeBiffwasaconstantpresenceonthebenchforover30years.Hewaspredominantlygentle,andiftherewasanoccasionaloutburst,itwastemperfedbyconscienceandhisdesirethatthingsgorightandbe fair. He stuck up for individual practitioners as the free CLE seminar program he started demon‐strates.Healsomadeusawareofhowdif icultitwasforthesmalllawof icewithoutinhouseaccountinghelptocomplywithdemandingproceduresandwhyitwasthatthesmallof icewasatgreaterrisktodisci‐plinaryaction.ThesonofimmigrantparentswhowasproudofhisItalianandCatholicheritageandwasthelovingheadofhisownfamily,whichisalawyerenclaveofitsown.Theworldwon’tbethesamewith‐outBiff.”FormerJusticeoftheSupremeCourtWilliamT.Quillen.“JudgeBifferatowastheultimatepublicservant.Herecognizedthatthecourtwastheretoservethepublicandtohelpsolveproblems,whethertheyinvolvedlargecorporationsorindividuals,andthateachofthosedeservedthesamefairrespectinahearing.”FormerSuperiorCourtJudgeRichardGebelein.
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JusticeRandyJ.HollandoftheDelawareSupremeCourtwasthehonoredguestjuristatthe8thannualCo-lumbia-OnoCorporateLawSymposiuminTelAviv,IsraelonJune9,2014.Inaddition,JusticeHollandhasbeenselected as the 2014 recipient of the Lewis F. Powell Jr. Award for Professionalism and Ethics. This honor isawardedonceayearbytheAmericanInnsofCourtinrecognitionofalawyerorjudgewhohasdemonstratedex-emplaryserviceintheareasoflegalexcellence,professionalism,andethics.TheawardwillbepresentedattheAmericanInnsofCourtCelebrationofExcellenceheldattheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesonOctober25,2014andhostedbytheHonorableRuthBaderGinsburg.Afternearly30yearsonthebench,JusticeJackB.JacobsoftheDelawareSupremeCourtretiredfromtheDela-wareSupremeCourtonJune25,2014.JusticeJacobswasappointedtotheSupremeCourtin2003byGovernorRuthAnnMinnerfromtheCourtofChancerywhereheservedasViceChancellorfrom1985.PriortojoiningtheCourt of Chancery, Justice Jacobs practiced corporate and business litigation inWilmington at the law irm ofYoungConawayStargatt&Taylor,LLP.JusticeJacobsauthoredandco-authorednumerousarticlesandspokeonissuesrelatedtocorporatelawinvariousvenues. HereceivedanundergraduatedegreefromtheUniversityofChicago,alawdegreefromHarvardUniversity,andanLLDfromWidenerUniversity.Inadditiontohisdutiesonthebench,JusticeJacobshasservedasanAdjunctProfessorofLawattheLawSchoolsofNewYorkUniversity,ColumbiaUniversity,theUniversityofChicago,andWidenerUniversity.HeisamemberoftheAmericanLawIn-stitute,whereheservedasanAdvisortoitsRestatement(Third)ofRestitutionanditsPrinciplesoftheLawofLiabilityInsurance.Afterhisretirementfromthebench,JusticeJacobsjoinedthelaw irmofSidleyAustinLLP.JusticeHenryduPontRidgely of theDelaware SupremeCourt was a panelist at the AnnualMeeting ofP.R.I.M.E.FinanceFoundationat thePeacePalace inTheHague,Netherlands inFebruary2014. JusticeRidgelydiscussed inancialderivativesinthecourtsonapanelthatincludedU.S.BankruptcyJudgeElizabethStong,Jus-ticeV.K.RajahoftheSupremeCourtofSingapore,andJudgeNataliaPavlovaoftheRussianSupremeCommercialCourt. Duringhisvisit, JusticeRidgelyalso lecturedonDelawarecorporate lawandthecharteringofcorpora-tionsinDelawareatLeidenUniversityandRotterdamUniversity.Governor JackA.MarkellappointedDelawareSuperiorCourtPresident Judge JamesT.Vaughn, Jr., to theDela-wareCriminalBackgroundandChildProtectionRegistryChecksTaskForceonJanuary13,2014.PresidentJudgeVaughnalsoparticipatedinReadAcrossAmericaonMarch7,2014andprovidedcommentstotheSmyrnaLittleLeagueplayersonopeningday,April12,2014.PresidentJudgeVaughnalsoservedasapanelistfortheSuperiorCourtComplexCommercialLitigationDivisionattheDelaware’sBusinessCourts:RecentDevelopmentsandBestPractices, Continuing Legal Education Program sponsored by the Delaware State Bar Association on May 5,2014.Lastly,PresidentJudgeVaughnlooksforwardtoadministeringtheoathtothenewDelawareStatePoliceTroopersinAugustashehasdoneinthepast.After24yearson theBench, theHonorableCharlesH.Toliver IV retired fromtheDelawareSuperiorCourt onMay3,2014.Initiallyappointedin1990byGovernorMichaelN.Castle,JudgeToliverwasreappointedin2002byGovernorThomasR.Carper.JudgeToliverwasparticularlycommittedtoReentryCourtwhichfocusedonreduc-ingtherateofrecidivismamongreleasedjailedoffenders. Priortohisappointments,JudgeToliverworkedforthelaw irmsofLeonardL.Williams&AssociatesandBiggs&Battaglia.JudgeToliverjoinedthelaw irmofMor-risJamesLLP.JudgeJanR.JurdenoftheDelawareSuperiorCourtdeliveredthekeynoteaddressatThe Raymond C.Rad-ulskiWorkers’CompensationSeminaronMay7,2014.JudgeJurdenalsopresentedonMentalHealthCourtattheStateofDelawareCrisisInterventionTeamTrainingonMay9,2014andonDelawareSuperiorCourtpracticeataContinuingLegalEducationSeminarsponsoredbytheLitigationSectionoftheDelawareStateBarAssociationonMay16,2014.Shealsoservedontwopanels–“TheComplementaryNatureofTheCourtofChanceryandTheSuperiorCourtComplexCommercialLitigationDivision”and“SelectionofVenueandBestPracticesIncludingEx-
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DELAWAREJUDICIARYRECOGNIZED
P a g e 9 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
pertDiscovery,E-DiscoveryandTechnologyAvailable inDelawareCourts”–at theDelaware’sBusinessCourts:RecentDevelopmentsandBestPractices,ContinuingLegalEducationProgram,alsosponsoredbytheDelawareStateBarAssociation,onMay16,2014.PatriciaW.Grif in,StateCourtAdministrator,recentlyjoinedtheBoardofDirectorsoftheNationalCenterforStateCourts,anonpro itorganizationthataimsto improveadministrationof justicethroughleadershipandservicetothenation’sstatecourts.ShewillserveafouryeartermontheBoard.Inaddition,shewaselectedVicePresidentoftheConferenceofStateCourtAdministrator(COSCA),anorganizationestablishedin1955toprovideanational forumtoassiststatecourtadministratorsacross thecountry indevelopingamore just,effectiveandef icient systemof justice. She isDelaware’s irst state court administrator to serve in either position. AsVicePresident,PatisanticipatedtoassumethepositionofPresidentofCOSCAinAugust2016.OnApril16,2014,Resident JudgeWilliamL.Witham, Jr., and JudgeJanR. Jurden,bothof theDelawareSuperiorCourt,hostedanafter-noontrainingforveteranswhowishtoserveasvolunteermentorsinthe Veterans Treatment Courts in Kent and New Castle Counties.Twenty- iveveteransoftheArmy,AirForce,Navy,MarineCorps,andNational Guard participated in the training designed to help themunderstandtheirrolesasmentorsintheCourts. Mentorscanplayacrucialroleinhelpingjustice-involvedveteransnavigatethesystem.Mentors do not replace counselors; rather they are there to offermoral support, provide positive encouragement, and guide justice-involvedveteranstoavailableresources.ThetrainingwasledbyJackO’Connor,theVolunteerMentorCoordi-nator of the Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court in New York. Mr.O’Connor, a VietnamVeteran, has served the Buffalo court since itsinception in 2008. The Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court was theirstVeteransCourttobeestablishedinthenationandMr.O’ConnorhadawealthofexperienceandknowledgetosharewiththeDelawarementors.
While the Kent County and New Castle County Veterans Treat-mentCourtsarerelativelynew,establishedin2011and2013re-spectively, these courts are already demonstrating positive re-sults.AsofApril1,2014,88%oftheKentCountyVeteransTreat-ment Court participants had successfully graduated, and inNewCastleCounty,94%oftheVeteransTreatmentCourtparticipantshadsuccessfullygraduated.Thesupportofanetworkofdedicat-ed and generous volunteer mentors will enhance these courts’services.
SUPERIORCOURTVETERANSTREATMENTCOURTHOSTSMENTORTRAINING
JudgeWithamspeakingtovolunteerVeteransTreatmentCourtsmentorsduringtraining.
JudgeWithamwelcomingDelawareU.S.SenatorChrisCoons,whospokeduringthetraining.
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
P a g e 1 0 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
FamilyCourtLaunchesEnhancementProjectInitiative
OnApril3and4,2014, inanongo-ing effort to improve systems andprocesses,theFamilyCourtofDela-ware launched an EnhancementProjectfocusingonissuesrelatedtodomestic violence in partnershipwith the Battered Women’s JusticeProject,theNationalInstituteofJus-tice,theNationalCouncilofJuvenileand Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ),and the U.S. Department of Justice,Of ice on Violence Against Women(OVW). The Family Court wel-comed to the launch event its localpartners in the project, includingthe Attorney General’s Of ice, lawenforcement,advocacygroups, rep-resentativesofthelegalcommunity,and research partner, Dr. Ruth Fleury-Steiner of theUniversityofDelaware.The goal of Family Court’s project is to improve thecourt’s response to custody cases involving domesticviolence so that resulting parenting and co-parentingarrangementsprotecttheemotionalandphysicalwell-being of victimized parents and their children. Dela-warewasoneof foursiteschosenthroughacompeti-tive selection process for the national project due totheuniquecombinationof theenthusiasmof thepeo-ple involved, the robust nature of the current pro-grams,andthegeographicalqualitiesoftheState.Thereareseveralobstacles that theCourt faceswhenconfronted with domestic violence, including institu-tionalbarriers, limitedresources, theeffectsofbiases,andthedif icultieswithunderstandingandaccountingfor domestic violence in decision-making. The projectwill thoroughlyevaluate theState’sweaknesses intheareasofdomesticviolenceas itrelatestocustodyandvisitation,whilestrengtheningexistingprotectionsand
workingonbestpracticesandreasonable solutions to theissueswithinthesystem.Pro-gress toward these goalswillthen be measured by datacollection that is geared to-ward identi ication of whichchanges or programs havethe greatest ef icacy andwhere resources couldbedi-vertedtobetterservevictimsof domestic violence and thepublicinterest.Through a collaborative ef-fort,adiversegroupofstake-holders identi ied areas ofneed and discussed the im-
plementation of reasonable solutions to the problemsendemic to the current model of domestic violencemanagement. Thoughtheprojectisstillinitsinfancy,those involved are focused on improving services forvictimsofdomesticviolence.Asmallergroupofstakeholderswillbetaskedwiththeongoingworkontheproject.ThisteamiscomprisedofChief Judge Chandlee Johnson Kuhn; Judge AlanCooper;CommissionerLouannVari;CourtAdministra-tor Leann Summa; Addie Asay, Director of Legal Af-fairs; Mary Crabbe, Director of Case Management, allfromFamilyCourt;AndrewGosner,Gosner&Gosner;JamesMcGif in,DelawareCommunityLegalAidSocie-ty; JanineHowardO’Rangers, Delaware Volunteer Le-gal Services; Carol Post, Delaware Coalition AgainstDomesticViolence;MariannKenville-Moore,DelawareCoalitionAgainst Domestic Violence; Ellie Torres, Do-mesticViolenceCoordinatingCouncil;BlancheCreech,PeoplesPlace2;TimBrandau,Child,Inc.;andDr.RuthFleury-Steiner,theUniversityofDelaware.
TheHonorableChandleeJohnsonKuhn,ChiefJudgeoftheFamilyCourt,noted:“TheFamilyCourtisveryexcitedtobeapartof thisproject. TheDelawaredomesticviolencepreventioncommu‐nityisdedicatedtothecauseandpas‐sionateaboutouropportunity to im‐pact the lives of victims and theirfamilies.Wehavealotofworkaheadof us, but I’m sure that, with assis‐tance fromNCJFCJ andOVW,we canmakeapositiveimpact.”
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
P a g e 1 1 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
MAYBRINGSYOUNGMINDSTOTHECOURTHOUSE
More than lowerswerebloomingat theNewCastleCounty Courthouse during the month of May. Em-ployeesandregularsoftheNewCastleCountyCourt-house may have noticed the presence of numerousyoung visitors as forty- ive ifth graders from AllSaintsCatholicSchoolcametothecourthouseonMay6,2014tolearnaboutthedutiesofCapitolPoliceOf-icersandwitnessthedailyactivitiesoftheNewCas-tleCountyCourthouse.Twenty French exchange students from Tower HillfollowedcloseontheirheelstoparticipateinaYouthForumonMay13,2014and learn about theAmeri-canjudicialsystem.Thisvisithasbecomeabi-annualeventatthecourthouse.Thestudentshadtheoppor-tunity to ask questions about the Delaware judicialsystemand, inparticular,thedeathpenalty–atopicofconsiderableinterestforEuropeans.ThelaststudentvisitwasheldonMay15withnearly30 students fromH.B.duPontMiddleSchool. Thesestudents areparticipants in theCognitiveEmotionalLearningEsteemBuilding(CELEB)programfoundedbyPastorDerrickJohnson. CELEBseekstopromotesmart, responsible decision making among youngteensthatwillpositivelyin luencetheirlivesanden-rich their schools and communities. TheHonorableAlex Smalls, Chief Judge of the Court of CommonPleas, met with the students in his courtroom andencouragedthemtoalwaysseekoutknowledgeasawaytoimprovetheirlives.StateProsecutorKathleen
M. Jennings and Assistant Public Defender NatalieHaskinsalsospokewiththestudentsaboutstrategiesforstayingsafeandoutoftroublethissummer.
Noneof thesevisitswouldhavebeenpossiblewith-outthehelpofCapitolPolice,theJudicialInformationCenter, theAdministrativeOf iceoftheCourtsInfor-mation Desk, the Of ice of the Public Defender, theAttorneyGeneral’sOf ice, and thenumerous judicialof icerswhovolunteeredtheirtimetosharetheirex-perienceofthejudicialsystemwiththestudents.
Singapore’sChiefJusticeVisitsDelaware’sCourtsOnApril3,2014,JusticeHenryduPontRidgelyandViceChancellorDonaldParsons,Jr.,welcomedChiefJusticeSundareshMenonofSingaporetotheNewCastleCountyCourthouseforadayofcross-culturalexchange.ChiefJusticeMenonvisitedDelawarewithmembersofhisstaff,includingChiefExecutiveJuthikaRamanathan,DeputyRegistrar TehHweeHwee, and Assistant Registrar Justin Yeo, to learn about Delaware’s Supreme Court andCourtofChancery,aswellasstateandfederalcorporateandinsolvencylaws.ChiefJusticeMenonandhisstaffspokeatlengthwithJusticeRidgelyandViceChancellorParsonsaboutthewayinwhichDelaware’sSupremeCourtandCourtofChanceryoperate,aswellasthedifferencesbetweencourtsinAmericaandSingapore. ChiefJusticeMenonandhisstaffthenmetwithmembersoftheCorporationLawandBankruptcyLawSectionsoftheDelawareStateBarAssociationinseparatemeetingstodiscusspertinentlawsandpractices. ThemeetingconcludedwithChief JusticeMenonexpressinghisdesire tocontinueanopenex-changeofinformationandhishopethatadditionalmembersofSingapore’sjudiciarywillhaveanopportunitytovisitandlearnaboutDelaware’smodel.
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
CommissionerLynneParkerandFrenchjudicialassistantscalltheCourttoattentionforthe"CaseoftheStolenCellPhone"withabangofthegav-el.
P a g e 1 2 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
TheChambersofChiefJusticeLeoE.Strine,Jr.,aresituatedintheRenaissanceCentreacrossfromtheNewCastleCountyCourthouse(NCCCH). TheAdministrativeOf iceoftheCourts(AOC)willrelocatedfromthecourthouseintotheRenaissanceCentreinearlyAugust.Themovemarksthebeginningoftheimplementationofalong-termvisiontoaddressgrowingspacede icienciesbyinvestingincourtfacilitiesacrossthestate.WhentheNCCCHwasdesignedmorethan15yearsagoonatightbudget,itwasunderstoodthatfuturealtera-tionswouldbenecessarytoensurethatthecourthousecouldmeetthechangingandgrowingrequirementsofthecourtsinthatbuilding.In2012,aNCCCHspacestudyidentifiedthemostcriticalspaceissuesfacedbythefourcourtsco-locatedintheNCCCH.Thosespacedeficienciesincludedadditionalspaceforclerk’soffices’operations,moreand largercourtrooms,androoms formediationandotheralternativedisputeresolution. Inparticular,serious inadequacies in theCourtofCommonPleas (CCP)Clerk’sOfficewere identifiedbecauseof insufficientspaceforstaff,equipment,andfiles.Thelackofcourtroomswithadequateseatingtoaccommodatelargecalen-dars(includingnon-juryandarraignmentcalendars)isagrowingissue.
TheCourtofChancerycurrentlyrunsitscriticaloperationsfromtwoseparate locations in theNCCCH. “Relocating theRegisterinChanceryfromthe1stfloortothe11thfloorwillenhanceop-erational efficiencies sincewewill be adjacent to CourtCham-bers,” statedKarlis Johnson,CourtofChanceryCourtAdminis-trator. She also noted: “The 2012 space study recommendedmoving the Register in Chancery from the 1st floor to the 7thfloor toprovideCCPwithnecessaryexpansionroom,and thentothe11thflooratalaterdatetoconsolidatecourtoperations.Amovetothe7thfloormakesnosense,sinceRegisterinChan-cerystaffwouldbenoclosertotheirjudgesorcourtrooms,and
wouldbeinundatedwithwalk-intraffic fromlitigantsappearinginothercourtswhosequestionswecouldnotanswer.Bymovingtothe11thfloornowweavoidthecost–estimatedatmorethan$1million–associatedwithbuildingofficesonthe7thfloor,whichwouldhavebeendeconstructedeventuallytobereplacedbycourtrooms,sincethe7thfloorwasdesignedtobeusedforcourtrooms.RelocatingtotheAOC'sspaceonthe11thfloorwillalsoallowtheCourtofChancerymuchneededspacetoholdmediations.Currently,partiesmediatingimportantbusinessdisputesintheCourtofChanceryhavenoappropriateplacetodoso.”Additionally, theSupremeCourtspaceintheCarvelBuilding inWilmingtonhasremainedrelativelyunchangedsince1978.TheoriginalplanfortheNCCCHincludedrelocatingtheSupremeCourttothatfacilityin2002,butothermorepressingcourtneeds,andbudgetconstraints,scuttledthatplan.Onalong-termbasis,theSupremeCourthassupportedeffortstoaddressothercourts’spaceneedsattheexpenseofitsown.Therearestrongpoli-cyreasonsfortheSupremeCourtandtheArmsofCourttobelocatedincloseproximitytothetrialcourtsandtheAOC.TheAOCservesastheadministrative“arm”oftheChiefJusticeandoperationalefficienciesrequireitsco-locationwith theSupremeCourt. For25years–until itwasmoved to theNCCCH in2002– theAOCwasco-locatedwiththeSupremeCourt.TheinterimmoveoftheAOCandtheChiefJustice’sChamberstotheRenaissanceCentreoffersanimmediateop-portunitytorelievetheNCCCH’smosturgentspaceissuesandprovidetremendousbenefitstothecourtslocatedintheNCCCH. Italsoavoidstheaggravationofspace issueswithintheexistingWilmington locationof theSu-premeCourt.Thismoveservesasthefirststepinrealizingthevisionforstatewidejudicialspaceneeds,whichwill includebringingallof theWilmingtonSupremeCourtChambers togetherwith theAOC incloseproximitywiththetrialcourts,andinaddressingtheseriousinadequaciesintheFamilyCourtfacilitiesinKentandSussexCounty,amongothercriticalneeds.
Of icesoftheChiefJusticeandtheAdministrativeOf iceoftheCourtsRelocateas
PartofLong‐TermVisionforJudicialFacilitiesStatewide
StephanieFitzgerald,CourtAdministrator,Dela-wareCourtofCommonPleas,stated:"ThespaceneedsoftheCourtofCommonPleasinNewCastleCountyhavehitacriticalpointandmustbe immediatelyaddressed ifwearegoing tocontinue toprovideahighqualityofservicetothepublic."
Formoreinformation,pleasecontactPatriciaGrif [email protected].
P a g e 1 3 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
Delaware’s First Lady, CarlaMarkell, returned topre-sentthekeynoteaddressforthesecondannualSistersin Success Conference on Monday, May 12, 2014 atBaylor Women’s Correctional Institution. First LadyMarkell, a long-time advocate of volunteerism, addedhervoicetotheteamofprofessionalwomenfromthelocalcommunitywhocametogethertoofferaseriesofworkshops designed to provide Delaware’s justice-involved women with the skills necessary to make asuccessfultransitionbackintothecommunity. Gover-nor JackMarkell andRobertM.Coupe, CommissioneroftheDelawareDepartmentofCorrection,werealsoinattendance and addressed ongoing efforts to enhancetheState’scriminaljusticesystem.The theme for this year’s conference was “Find YourVoice”andthepresentationscoveredarangeoftopicsfocusingonexpressingyourself for success. Theday-long conference, led by the Honorable Jan R. Jurden,Delaware Superior Court Judge, offered a variety ofworkshops moderated by various Delaware expertsthat explored issues related to inding your voicethrough personal growth and health awareness, posi-tive relationships and setting appropriateboundaries,employmentskillsand the interviewprocess,protect-ing privacy and concerns raisedby socialmedia, par-entingissues,andre-entryservices.TheeventwassponsoredbytheDelawareDepartmentofCorrection,BaylorWomen’sCorrectionalInstitution;the Delaware Criminal Justice Council; the Delaware
WomenintheLawSection,DelawareStateBarAssoci-ation; and the Delaware Chapter of National Associa-tionofWomenJudges. MembersoftheSistersinSuc-cesssteeringcommitteeinclude:WardenWendiCaple,BaylorWomen’sCorrectionalInstitution;DeputyWar-denRobertMay,BaylorWomen’sCorrectionalInstitu-tion; the Honorable Jan R. Jurden, Delaware SuperiorCourt; the Honorable Andrea Rocanelli, Delaware Su-periorCourt;theHonorableBarbaraCrowell,DelawareFamily Court; the Honorable Aida Waserstein, Dela-wareFamilyCourt;theHonorableLorettaYoung,Dela-ware Family Court; theHonorableArleneMinus Cop-padge, Delaware Family Court; the Honorable MaryMcDonough,DelawareCourtofCommonPleas;DrewryNash Fennell, Esq., Criminal Justice Policy Advisor tothe Governor; Amy Herb, Criminal Justice Council;LainaHerbert, Esq., Immediate Past Chair,Women intheLawSection,DelawareStateBarAssociation;FaithLevy, Treatment Administrator, BaylorWomen’s Cor-rectional Institution; John R. (Jack) McDonough,ReentryCoordinator,DelawareDepartmentof Justice;Tanya Sellers, Esq., Crossland & Associates; JenniferHutchinson, Community Advocate; JuneBenson,Men-talHealthCourtPeerMentorProgram;andAmyQuin-lan, Esq., Deputy State Court Administrator, Adminis-trativeOf iceoftheCourts.
SECONDANNUALSISTERSINSUCCESSCONFERENCEHELDATBAYLORWOMEN’SCORRECTIONALINSTITUTION
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
U.S.MARSHALPAPILIRECOGNIZED
Members of the New Castle County Courthouse OperationsPolicyCommitteepresentedatributetoDistrictofDelawareUnited States Marshal Joseph A. Papili upon his retirementfrom the Marshal’s of ice in March 2014. The Judiciarythanked Marshal Papili for his many years of collaborationwith the Judiciary on security matters and wished him thebestinhisnextendeavorasAthleticDirectorofSt.Elizabeth’sSchool.
Picturedfromlefttoright:ViceChancellorDonaldParsons,ChiefJudgeAlexSmalls(CourtofCommonPleas),MarshalJosephL.Papili,andResidentJudgeRichardCooch(SuperiorCourt).
P a g e 1 4 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
Mechanicalfailurescanhappenbutwhenyouhaveswindledyourmechanicoutofhissavings,youmaywanttorecon-sider getting your car serviced there. Likewise, picking up your prescriptionmedication from a pharmacistwhosemoneywassquanderedinyourPonzischememaynotbethewisestthingtodo.InaplotworthyofanAgathaChristiemurder-mystery,thisyear’sHighSchoolMockTrialcompetitiontriedthecaseofStateofDelawarev.CameronPaulonFebruary21-22,2014.Whatcausedthefatalcrashthattookthelifeofthevictim,acaringfatheraccordingtohisson,whose investmentcompany,U.R.Rich,dissipatedmillionsofdollarsandcostpeopletheir life’ssav‐ings?
StudentattorneyssetaboutthetaskofprovingwhetherCameronPaul,thegarageowner,wasguiltyofthemurderofThorBrushorwhetherreasonabledoubtexisted. Callingonexpertwitnesses,whoponti icatedonthemeritsofthetheories,andwitnesses,whosemotivationswereeachmoresuspectthanthenext,thestudentattorneysdirectedandcrossed, battled over objections and highlighted the strength of their case in their opening and closing arguments,whileunderminingthemeritsoftheiropponents’case.Afterfourrounds,the inaltwoteams–theCharterSchoolofWilmingtonandSaintMark’sHighSchool–competedinfrontofapanelofjudgesthatincludedSupremeCourtJusticeRandyJ.Holland.Theresultswereannouncedatabanquetheldafterthe inalroundonFebruary22,2014.Thisyear,theCharterSchoolofWilmingtonhadthehonorofrepresentingDelawareinthenationalcompetitionwhichwasheldMay8toMay10,2014inMadison,Wisconsin.
HIGHSCHOOLSTUDENTSTRYTHECASEOFSTATEOFDELAWAREV.CAMERONPAUL
Wasitaheartattacktriggeredbyanadversereactiontoalethalcombinationofprescriptionmed‐icationanddietarysupplements?
Thankyoutoallthenumerousvolunteerswhowillinglygaveuptheirtimetomakethisanothersuccess‐fulMockTrialcompetition.Judges,attorneys,andWidenerLawstudentsservedasvolunteerjudgesandprovided feedback to thestudents. Membersof theDelawareParalegalAssociationservedasrunnersandsecurityof icers,bailiffs,andcourtstaffvolunteeredinvariouscapacitiesthroughoutthecourthouse.WewouldliketoextendaspecialthankyoutoCapitolPoliceforsoablymanagingtheadditionalin luxofpeopleintothecourthouseandrespondingtothemyriadneedsoftheparticipants.
UPDATETOTESTAMENTARYTRUSTACCOUNTINGPROCEDURESINTHECOURTOFCHANCERY
Witharecentamendmentto12Del.C.§3521,trustbene iciariescanwaivetheneedforfuturejudicialac-countings.Forallexistingtestamentarytrustcasesforwhichwaiversarenot,orcannotbe,obtained,andforanynewtestamentarytrustcases,pleadingsoraccountings iledafterJuly1,2014mustbeelectronical-ly iledintheCourtofChanceryGuardianshipandTrustsCourtontheFileandServeXpresssystem.Speci -ic procedures related to e- iling testamentary trust case documents can be found at http://courts.delaware.gov/Chancery/docs/TUWnotice.pdf.
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
P a g e 1 5 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
For the third year in a row, theWomen and the LawSectionof theDelaware StateBarAssociation, in con-junctionwith theSupremeCourtofDelaware, coordi-nated iCivics presentations in public elementary andmiddleschools throughout theStateofDelawaredur-ing the month of May. Women and the Law Sectionmember and former co-chair, Laina M. Herbert, Es-quire,ofPrickett,Jones,&Elliott,P.A.,assistedbyKatieWolinskioftheAdministrativeOf iceoftheCourts,re-cruited members of the Delaware Judiciary and theDelaware State Bar Association to make the iCivicspresentations.JusticeRandyJ.HollandoftheDelawareSupremeCourtservesastheDelawareChairforiCivics.iCivics was developed by retired U.S. Supreme CourtJusticeSandraDayO’Connorandateamofeducationalexperts in2010 topromoteciviceducation inschoolsto counter Americans’ declining civic education andparticipation.TheneedtoimproveAmericans’waver-
ing civic knowledge became even more evident withthe 2011 release of themost recent report card fromtheNationalAssessmentofEducationProgresswhichfound thatonly27%of fourthgraders,22%of eighthgraders,and24%oftwelfthgraderswerepro icientincivics.iCivics consists of interactive computer games thatteachelementaryandmiddleschoolstudentsabouttheConstitution and the Bill of Rights. iCivics has pro-duced 16 educational video games andmore than 70lessonplanswhichmeettheCommonCoreStandards.Duringthe2012-2013schoolyear,35,000educatorsin9,000differentschoolsadoptediCivicscurricula.Dur-ing that same year, 5.9 million iCivics games wereplayedbystudents.
LAWDAY2014CELEBRATEDTHROUGHiCIVICSPRESENTATIONS
The Of ice of State Court Collections Enforcement(OSCCE)hasannouncedplanstoexpanditssuccessfulpayment kiosk system in the next six months. Thekioskprogram,aimedatmakingpaymentsoffeesandinesmoreaccessible forDelawareans,provideseasyto follow step-by-step instructions and allows pay-mentstobemadeatanytimetomultipleagenciesandcourtsfromvariouslocations.Programming enhancements to the payment kioskmenuwill enable payments to theCourt of CommonPleas,JusticeofthePeaceCourt,FamilyCourt,andtheDepartmentofCorrectiontobepaidinrealtime.Pay-mentstoanewagency–theDivisionofChildSupport–willbefeaturedonthemenuofentitiesthatcanbepaid through the payment kiosk as of August 2014.This new feature will interface with the Division ofChild Support’s iPay system. OSCCE has partneredwith the Department of Motor Vehicles to add pay-mentkiosksatselectDMVlocations.The irstofthesekioskswillbeplaced in theKentCountyDepartmentof Motor Vehicles. If successful, other county loca-tionswillbeadded.
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
OSCCEEXPANDSPAYMENTKIOSKPROGRAM
“In early fall of 2014, non-custodial parents will be able to make child support payments on line as well as via the TouchPay™ kiosks lo-cated throughout the state. The kiosks will al-low these parents to pay cash to avoid incar-ceration for contempt which will make the pro-cess of complying much easier for them. Currently, they need to purchase money orders or cashier’s checks and travel to one of the three child support office’s during business hours to make these payments which is often difficult for them. It will be particularly helpful when the kiosks are located in or near the Family Courts.” Midge Holland, Chief of Administration, Di-vision of Child Support Enforcement, Dela-ware Health and Social Services.
For more information, please contact Bill DiBartola at [email protected].
P a g e 1 6 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
OnApril10,2014,thejudgesandcommissionersofFami-ly Court welcomed for a day-long training nationally-renownedjudicialethicsexpertCynthiaGray.SinceOcto-ber1990,Ms.GrayhasbeendirectoroftheAmericanJu-dicature Society’s Center for Judicial Ethics, a nationalclearinghouse for information about judicial ethics anddiscipline.Ms.GraywritesandeditstheJudicialConductReporter, frequentlypresents at judicial education confer-ences, and writes extensively on judicial ethics topics.Among herwritings are:How JudicialConductCommis-sionsWork,Just.Sys.J.(2007);TheLineBetweenLegalEr-rorand JudicialMisconduct:Balancing Judicial Independ-ence andAccountability, Hofstra L. Rev. (Summer 2004);andAvoidingTheAppearanceofImpropriety:WithGreatPower Comes Great Responsibility, U. Ark. Little Rock L.Rev.(Fall2005).Given Family Court’s commitment to maintaining thehighestethical standards inanever-evolving technologi-calworld,onefocusofthetrainingconcernedtheincreas-ing presence of social media in society and the lives ofjudges and commissioners. Questions that just a fewyears agowouldnot havebeen askedwere thoughtfully
considered. Speci ically, issues such as whether“friending” an attorney creates an impression that thelawyer is in a position to in luence the judge andwhenmaintaining a blog is appropriate were analyzed. Ms.Grayalsodiscussedtheethicalissuessurroundingseveralinstances throughout the country in which judges andcommissioners utilized technology (Facebook, websites,Google) to independently research parties,witnesses, orexpertswhowerebeforethecourt.As an issue that the public frequently raises, the judgesandcommissionersalsoengagedinathoroughreviewofthe judicial disquali ication landscape. In so doing, theylookedat case law, statutes, andadvisoryopinions,bothinsideandoutsideofDelaware, tounderstandthedevel-oping law concerningwhen a judge’s impartialitymightreasonablybequestioned.In wrapping up the day, the judges and commissionersreviewed recent, noteworthy opinions and consideredhow the fact- inder balanced judicial accountability andjudicialindependence.
NATIONALLYRENOWNEDJUDICIALETHICSEXPERTPRESENTSATFAMILYCOURT
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
SUPERIORCOURTRULE61AMENDED
On June4,2014,SuperiorCourtamendedseveralprovisionsof itsCriminalRule61, includingsection (a),whichwasamendedtoclarifythatonlymovantswhoarecurrentlyincustodyandarechallengingthejudgmentforwhichtheyareincustodymay ileamotionunderCriminalRule61. CriminalRule61(d)wasalsoamendedtoprovidethatasecondorsubsequentpost-convictionmotionwillbesummarilydismissedunlessthemovantwasconvictedafteratrialandthemotionpleadswithparticularityeitherthatnewevidenceexiststoestablishthemovant’sactu-alinnocenceinfact,orthatanew,retroactivelyapplicableconstitutionalruleappliestothemovant’scasewhichrenderstheconvictionordeathsentenceinvalid.Modi icationstoCriminalRule61(e)distinguishedthosecasesinwhichcounselmustbeappointedtoassistanindigentmovanttopursuepost-convictionrelieffromthosecasesinwhichappointmentofcounsel isdiscretionary. AmendedRule61(e)providesthatthecourt,uponrequest,shallappointcounselforanytimely irstpost-convictionmotioniftheunderlyingconvictionwasimposedduringtrialandisforacrimedesignatedasaclassA,BorCfelony,oriftheconvictionresultedinahabitualoffender’slifesen-tence or in a death sentence. The court has the discretion to appoint counsel for other timely iled irst post-convictionmotionsiftheunderlyingconvictionresultedfromaguiltypleaorwasimposedfollowingatrial foralessseriouscrime.TheamendedRulesprovidethespeci iccriteriaforthosecasesinwhichthecourtmayexercisesuchdiscretion.Inaddition,amendmentstoRule61(e)providethatajudgemayappointcounselforanindigentmovant’ssecondorsubsequentpost-convictionmotiononly if themotionmeets thepleadingrequirementspro-scribed innewsection(d)(2)ofRule61. Finally,CriminalRule61(i)wasamendedto incorporatenewpleadingstandardsforsecondorsubsequentpost-convictionmotions,andtostatethatproceduralbarsofCriminalRule61(i)(1)–(4)donotapplytoclaimsthatsatisfythenewpleadingstandards,andtoclarifythatexceptionstothoseprocedural bars are limited to claims that the court lacked jurisdiction, or that satisfy the new pleading stand-ards. Amended Superior Court Rule 61 can be found at http://courts.delaware.gov/Superior/pdf/criminal_rule_61_amend_2014.pdf. Formoreinformation,pleasecontactMaureenFrederickat
P a g e 1 7 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
OnMarch26,2014,theJusticeofthePeaceCourtheldatrainingforjudges,managers,andpoliceof icerliaisonson the topicofprocedural justice. Entitled “EnhancingProcedural Fairness,” the program consisted of a one-daytrainingincludingcurriculumdevelopedasapartofthe Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) ImprovingCourtroomCommunicationProject(the“Project”).AsapartoftheProject,theBJA,theCenterforCourtInnova-tion,andtheNational JudicialCollegesoughtproposalsfromcourts interested in receiving the training tohelpjudges and court personnel enhance communicationpracticesinordertoimproveperceptionsoffairnessbylitigants. Three sites were selected nationally for thetraining, including the Delaware Justice of the PeaceCourt.Inconjunctionwithbeingselectedasasite,theJusticeofthe Peace Court participated in several pre-trainingmeetings with faculty in order to craft a program de-signed to meet the speci ic needs of the Justice of thePeaceCourt.Inaddition,allparticipantsviewedabriefonline training regarding the basics of procedural fair-nesspriortothefulldayprogram.ThefacultyincludedtheHonorableAlexCalabrese,anactingSupremeCourtJusticeoftheStateofNewYorkandthePresidingJudgeoftheRedHookCommunityJusticeCenter;theHonora-bleJeffreyKremers,ChiefJudgeoftheMilwaukeeCoun-tyCircuitCourt;KellyTait,ajudicialbranchcommunica-tion consultant; and the Honorable Chad Schmucker,President of the National Judicial College. Emily Goldand Aubrey Fox from the Center for Court Innovationassistedincoordination,planning,andpresentation.The curriculum included training on both verbal andnon-verbal communication, considering specialpopula-
tions, irst-hand experiences from the bench and thedevelopmentofanactionplanmovingforward.Partici-pants engaged in group exercises aswell as lively dis-cussionsastheywereencouragedtolookattheirphysi-calcourtbuildingsandtheirinteractionwiththepublicin new and different ways. Jody Huber, Justice of thePeaceCourtstaffattorneyandcoordinatorofthetrain-ing, noted: “One of the most powerful exercises wasmaking a video recording of one of our judges con‐ducting an arraignment and then critiquing thatjudge’s performance based upon what we hadlearnedthroughouttheday.Ourjudgesconducthun‐dreds of arraignments everyweek and the processcanbecomeveryroutine,which isdangerous fromaprocedural justiceperspective. Thiswas intendedtobeastartingpointinanongoingseriesoftraininginthearea ofprocedural fairness. It isa subject thatimpactseverysinglecasewehaveandtoucheseverylitigant thatwalks through our doors. These skillshave thepotential to impactnot just thewaypeopleperceivethecourt,butcomplianceandrecidivismaswell.”Participants took a survey both before and severalweeksafter the training togatherdataabout theeffectof the trainingupon theirknowledgebaseand interac-tions with the public. In addition, the Justice of thePeaceCourtcontinuestoworkwiththeCenterforCourtInnovation on critiquing the training and making im-provementsfortheothertwositesthatwillreceivethesamecurriculum.TheJusticeofthePeaceCourtiscom-mitted to having a procedural fairness component inevery training for both judges and court staff so thatworkinthisareacontinues.
JUSTICEOFTHEPEACECOURTHOLDSENHANCINGPROCEDURALFAIRNESSTRAINING
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
JICSTAFFUPGRADESJUDICIARYTOWINDOWSJICrecentlycompletedtheupgradeof1,189judicialbranchcomputersandlaptopsfromWindowsXPtoWindows7.TheupgradewasnecessitatedbyMicrosoft’sannouncementlastspringthatitwouldnolongersupportWindowsXP.OnApril8,2014,Microsoftreleasedtheirlast“PatchTuesday”forWindowsXPandOf ice2003,leavingcomputersthatoperateonthosesystemsvulnerabletohackersandmalicioussoftware.PatchTuesdayisthesecondTuesdayofeachmonth,whenMicrosoftreleasesthenewest ixesforitsWindowsoperatingsystemandrelatedsoftwareapplications.WindowsXPwasoneofMicrosoft’smostpopularoperatingsystemsforover12years,evenasupgradessuchasWindows7andWindows8becameavailable.Microsoft’sannouncementthatitwoulddiscontinueitssupportforWindowsXP,nolongerprovidingsecurityandsoftwareupdates,leavesMicrosoftuserswhostilluseWindowsXPatrisk.Microsoft’sannouncementpresentedasecuritydilemmaforDelaware’sDepartmentofTechnologyandInformation.OftheState’s20,000computers,approximately1,833belongtotheCourts. JIChelpdeskstaffmembersphysicallyworkedonorreplacedcourtcomputersthatstillutilizedWindowsXP.TheCourtshavenowsuccessfullycompletedthetransi-tionfromXPWindowstoWindows7andsecuredtheirdatabases.
Formoreinformationonthisproject,[email protected].
P a g e 1 8 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
WILLIAMPENNV.LORDBALTIMOREGOESONTHEROAD
WilliamPennv.LordBaltimore, a theatrical adaption of Justice Randy Holland’s historical book,Delaware’sDestinyasDeterminedbyLewes,waspresentedattheTerryCareyAmericanInnofCourtinMilfordonJanuary15,2014andagainattheMelson-ArshtInnofCourtinWilmingtononApril8,2014.Theplay,writtenbyJusticeHolland,tracesthehistoricaleventsthatledtoDelawarebecomingaseparatestateandwaswellreceivedbytheaudience.Completewithcostumesandmusical interludesperformedbySuperiorCourtJudgeRobertB.Young,JusticeHollandnarratedasmembersoftherespectiveInnsreenactedscenesdescribedinhisbook.“ItwasgreatfunparticipatinginJusticeHolland’splayandbringingavitalpieceofDelaware’shistory–howthelegalbattlebetweenWilliamPennandLordBaltimoregaveDelawareitsshape–tolifeforthemembersoftheTerryCareyInn,”remarkedShaunKelly,aSu-premeCourt lawclerkwhoperformedattheTerryCareyInn. StaciPesin,aFamilyCourt lawclerk,concurred,“theplaywasagreatopportunityfor judges,attorneys,andlawclerkstoworktogetherandgettoknoweachother. Wehadalotoffunrehearsingandperforming.”DavidA.Boswell,Esq., JohnF.Brady,Esq.,NicoleM.Faries,Esq.,ZachGreenberg (SupremeCourt lawclerk), ShaunKelly(SupremeCourtlawclerk),DavidN.Rutt,Esq.,JudgePaulaT.Ryan,LaurenSanders(FamilyCourtlawclerk),andElizabethL.Soucek,Esq.,participated in theplayat theTerryCarey Innasmembersof theWilliamStoreyPupilageGroup.TheCromptonPupilageGroup,performingastheCromptonColonialCriers,intheproductionattheMelson-ArshtInnofCourtincludedBonnieE.Copeland,Esq.,Edward(Mike)F.Eaton,Esq.,KathrynJ.Laffey,Esq.,AndrewMeyer(FamilyCourt lawclerk),StaciPesin(FamilyCourt lawclerk),ShanaA.Pinter,Esq.,PhyllisR.Scully,Esq.,andJudgeBarbaraCrowell.
PICTUREDSTANDINGINBACKROW:JudgeRobertB.Young,JohnF.Brady,Esq.,JusticeRandyJ.Holland,JudgePaulaT.Ryan,LaurenSanders(FamilyCourtlawclerk),DavidA.Boswell,Esq.SITTINGINFRONTROW:ElizabethL.Soucek,Esq.,ShaunKelly(SupremeCourtlawclerk),ZachGreenberg(SupremeCourtlawclerk),NicoleM.Faries,Esq.,andDavidN.Rutt,Esq.
PICTUREDSTANDINGBACKROW:JudgeYoung,MikeEaton,Esq.,AndrewMeyer(FamilyCourtlawclerk),JusticeHolland,KathrynLaffey,andKempVye.SITTINGFRONTROW:ShanaPinter,Esq.,BonnieCopeland,Esq.,StaciPesin(FamilyCourtlawclerk),JudgeCrowell,andPhyllisScully,Esq.
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
P a g e 1 9 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
SUPERIORCOURTMENTALHEALTHCOURTLAUNCHESPEERMENTORPROGRAM
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
SuperiorCourtMentalHealthCourtlauncheditsPeerMen-torPrograminJanuary2014.AcollaborationbetweentheSuperiorCourt, theDelawareDivisionofSubstanceAbuseandMentalHealth(DSAMH),andtheMentalHealthAssoci-ationinDelaware(MHA),thisnewinitiativeshouldsigni i-cantlyenhancetheservicesprovidedbytheSuperiorCourtMentalHealthCourtteam.Evidence-based best practices indicate that peer mentorprogramsareanecessarycomponentofthemostsuccess-ful mental health courts. Peermentors provide valuableassistance totheparticipantsbyofferingadditionalmoraland practical support and helping participants navigatetheirwaythroughprobationordiversionprograms.Theycanserveasasoundingboardandasourceofencourage-menttoparticipantsasmentorsarefamiliarwiththemyriadissuesthatbesetparticipants.MentorsareselectedbasedontheirpersonalexperiencewithmentalhealthissuesandarethusfamiliarwiththestrugglesandchallengesfacedbyMentalHealthCourtparticipants.TheSuperiorCourtMentalHealthCourtPeerSupportCoordinator is JuneBenson. ThePeerSupportSpecialistsareMicheleOwens,BrittaniShells,andJenniferWhitehead.Thisprogramwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthesup-portofPresidentJudgeVaughn,whowasreceptivetothisinitiative,andtheinvaluablecontributionsprovidedbyDi-rectorKevinHuckshorn(DSAMH);DirectorJamesLafferty(MHA);formerCriminalJusticeCouncilExecutiveDirectorDrewryFennell;andExecutiveDirectorDr.JoshuaThomas-AckeroftheDelawareNationalAllianceonMentalIllnessinDelaware.
“There are ten basic components of a successfulmentalhealthcourt–wenowhaveallten.Iexpect[thePeerMentorProgram]willfurtherimproveourability to assist justice‐involved individuals withsevereandpersistentmentalillness,whilereducingrecidivismand improvingpublicsafety,”remarkedSuperior Court Mental Health Court Judge Jan R.Jurden. Shecontinued,“IamreallyexcitedaboutthePeer Mentor Program and expect the [MentalHealth Court]participantswill ind thepeermen‐toringtremendouslyhelpful.”
KENT COUNTY FAMILY COURT MURAL
Details of the 20-foot-long mural gracing Family Court Judge Mardi F. Pyott’s Kent County courtroom. Entitled“ChoicesToo,”themuralistheproductofanartisticcollaborationbetween25fostercarechildren,manyofwhomaremembersoftheDelawareYouthAdvisoryCouncil(YAC);JohnDonato,LeadYourWaySolutionsartist;theDepartmentofServices forChildren,YouthandTheirFamilies;and theDelawareFamilyCourt. TheDelawareBarFoundationfundedtheprojectandtheDoverArtLeagueprovidedstudiospacefortheartistandchildren.ThemuralwasunveiledMay5,2014anddepictsthepathtraveledbyfostercarechildrenastheyheadtowardsabrighterfuture.
P a g e 2 0 D E L A W A R E D O C K E T
We are pleased to present the Summer 2014 issue of the Delaware Docket, the Newsletter of the Delaware Judici-ary, which is published semi-annually to provide updates on activities and events in the Judicial community. All are welcome to suggest topics, contribute articles for future editions, and provide suggestions on the newsletter. The Delaware Docket is available on line at http://courts.delaware.gov/AOC/publications.stm.
Managing Editors: Patricia Griffin, State Court Administrator, and Amy Quinlan, Deputy State Court Administrator Articles Editor: Ashley Tucker, Staff Attorney Features Editor: Robin Freeman, Research and Planning Coordinator Layout Editor: Connie Magee, Executive Assistant
Administrative Office of the Courts 405 N. King Street, Suite 507 Wilmington, Delaware 19801 Phone: 302-255-0090 Fax: 302-255-2217
WEBSITE: http://courts.delaware.gov/AOC/publications.stm
THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY COURTHOUSE LOBBY GETS LONG-AWAITED FACELIFT
TheNewCastle County Courthouse is inally ready foritsmakeover.Thelong-awaitedrenovationstothefrontlobby of the courthouse began on May 27, 2014 andshould be completed in August 2014. These renova-tionswillnotonlyrepairthedamagescausedbytheex-change of gun ire that occurredon February11, 2013,but will also enhance traf ic low into and out of thecourthouseandintroducenewsafetyfeatures.Muchthoughtwasgivenastohowthelobbyshouldberecon iguredtopermiteaseofingressandegresswhilemaintaining security. After consulting with the U.S.Marshals’of iceandtheDepartmentofHomelandSecu-rity,formerChiefJusticeMyronT.SteeleandthePresid-ing Judgesof theaffectedcourtscreatedastrategicse-curityactionplanthatidenti iedareasofneed.Theren-ovationstothelobbywererankedasatopprioritybutworkhasbeendelayeddue to thedif iculty associatedwithacquiring custommadebulletproofmaterial spe-ci icallymanufacturedforthelobby’scon iguration.TheNewCastleCountyCourthouselobbywillnowhaveadedicatedentranceandexitdoorsphysicallyseparat-ed from one another by a glass partition that will cutthroughthelobby.Thesidedoorthatleadstothepark-inggaragewillbethesolemeansofegress.Employees,
litigants,andvisitorswillcontinuetoenterthroughthefrontdoors,butashortdividewillclearlydemarcatetheemployee and jury services security screening linesfromthoseusedbyallothervisitors. Finally,anobser-vation station fromwhich Capitol Police will have theabilitytosurveythecrowdwillbebuiltinthelobby.
Other measures called for under the Judicial Branch’sstrategicsecurityactionplanhavebeeninstitutedorareinprocess.ThenumberofCapitolPoliceassignedtothejudiciary has been substantially increased; additionalcameras and intrusion devices have been installed atcourthouses; new x-ray machines have been added inthe Justiceof thePeaceCourt; securitypersonnelhavereceived additional training; and of ice spaces open tothepublichavebeen ittedwithenhancedsafetyequip-ment(ballisticandKevlarmaterials).Astatewidesecu-ritycommitteehasbeenformedtoprovideuniformse-curityprotectionstoalljudicialbranchemployees.Newpolicieshavebeenadopteddealingwiththreatstojudi-cialof icersandstaffaswellasemergencyclosuresandnoti icationofclosures
Formoreinformation,[email protected].
