Jan Jurden became the first woman to be sworn in as the president of Delaware’s Superior Court Monday.
She replaces James T. Vaughn Jr., who left the court last October to join the state’s Supreme Court.
At the ceremony at the New Castle County Courthouse, Governor Jack Markell praised Jurden’s efforts to aid those with mental health or substance abuse issues in Delaware.
“For anybody who knows her, Jan epitomizes what public service is all about, taking advantage of every opportunity to better our world and to improve the lives of other people, particularly those who need the help most,” Markell said.
The state Senate confirmed Markell’s choice to lead the Superior Court in a 19-2 vote in December.
State Senator Harris McDowell (D-Wilmington North) was the only lawmaker to speak publicly in opposition to the confirmation, citing a controversial 2009 decision by Jurden to order probation instead of prison in the child sex abuse case of Robert Richards IV, a wealthy du Pont family heir.
McDowell said the decision reflected inequality in the state’s judicial system.
At her swearing in, Jurden said her tenure as president judge will focus on fairness under the law.
“Rest assured that as president judge, I along with my colleagues will follow the rule of law and work hard to ensure that all who enter these hallowed halls will receive not only substantive justice, but procedural fairness,” Jurden said. “We are dedicated to affording not only access to justice, but access to equal justice.”
Jurden thanked her family and colleagues, saying “I am an ordinary person who has been blessed by extraordinary people.”