Tamika Montgomery-Reeves is Delaware’s first African-American Supreme Court justice.
It became official when she took her oath of office at an investiture ceremony Friday afternoon at Howard High School in Wilmington.
Montgomery-Reeves served on the state Court of Chancery since 2015 and was that court’s first African-American vice chancellor. She was appointed to the high court in October by Gov. John Carney to fill the seat of Associate Justice Collins Seitz - who replaced Leo Strine as Chief Justice.
“Although I’m extremely proud to have the opportunity to nominate the first African-American to the Delaware Supreme Court, that’s not why we’re here today,” said Carney at the ceremony. “We are here because Justice Montgomery-Reeves has impeccable credentials, a strong work ethic and an honorable reputation, and she will be a superb member of the Delaware Supreme Court.”
There have been calls for Carney to appoint a justice of color since Strine announced his plans to retire last summer.
In September, the Multicultural Lawyers & Judges section of the Delaware State Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Association, the South Asian Bar Association and the Delaware Barristers Association sent Carney a letter arguing the benefits of a bench that better reflects the population.
At Friday's ceremony, Montgomery-Reeves responded with thanks for Carney’s nomination.
“I know you care deeply about our judiciary and you have a genuine desire to shape the judiciary in a way that allows the courts to maintain national preeminence, but you also recognize the value in making sure that the judiciary reflects the people that the courts serve,” she said. “I know you had impressive candidates to choose from when you selected me as a justice, so I thank you for selecting me.”
Montgomery-Reeves previously practiced law in New York and at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Wilmington, where she focused on corporate governance and business litigation.
She is one of two women now on the five-person court, joining Justice Karen Valihura, who’s been on the court since 2014.
Gov. Carney announced on Friday his intention to nominate Delaware attorney Paul Fioravanti, Jr. to replace Montgomery-Reeves on the Court of Chancery.
