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Gov. Markell offers nominations for Chancery and Family Court judicial posts

Delaware Public Media

Gov. Jack Markell moved Tuesday to fill three judicial vacancies, announcing his nominees for seats on the Court of Chancery and Family Court.

Markell tapped Tamika Montgomery-Reeves to sit on the Chancery Court bench.   Montgomery-Reeves is a corporate litigator in the Wilmington office of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich and Rosati, focusing on corporate governance, navigation of corporate fiduciary duties, and corporate litigation. If confirmed by the state Senate, she’ll succeed Vice Chancellor Donald Parsons, Jr. - whose term expires October 22nd.

“Tamika Montgomery-Reeves has the intellectual ability and strong work ethic necessary to serve on Delaware’s Court of Chancery,” said Markell in a statement. “She also has substantial experience practicing corporate law and clerking for the Court of Chancery, and she has demonstrated a genuine passion for the issues handled by the Court.  If confirmed by the Senate, I’m confident she will serve to maintain the Court’s deserved reputation as the premier venue for the resolution of business disputes.”

Markell turned to his own cabinet to fill one of two open slots on the Family Court bench, nominating Jennifer Ranji.  Ranji has served as Secretary of the state’s Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families for the last two and a half years.  She was an education policy advisor for the Markell administration before taking over the Children’s Department.

Markell also nominated his deputy legal counsel Danielle Blount to be Commissioner of Family Court.

The Family Court nominations are needed to replace Judge William L. Chapman Jr., who is retiring this month to return to private practice, and Commissioner Mary Ann Herlihy, who is also retiring at the end of October.

Markell is also nominating three others for re-appointment.  They are Superior Court Judge Mary Johnston, Family Court Judge Arlene Coppadge, and Justice of the Peace Court Chief Magistrate Alan Davis. 

The state Senate will hold a special session October 28th to consider all of Markell's nominations.

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.
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