Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware launched a canvassing campaign to convince residents of a Black’s need to head Chancery Court.
Gov. John Carney is poised to appoint a successor to retire Chancellor Andre Bouchard.
Citizens and the Rev. Al Sharpton and some community leaders have been calling for Gov. Carney to appoint a Black judge to replace Bouchard.
The group has been critical of a recent appointment and confirmation of Paul Fioravanti Jr. to serve as Vice-Chancellor. He replaced Justice Tamika Montgomery-Reeves, who now serves as a Delaware Supreme Court justice.
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Campaign Manager Chris Coffey offered the following: “Every time we get out and talk to Delawareans, they are shocked by the lack of transparency and diversity in the state’s courts. The process is inaccessible to the everyday citizens whose lives are affected by the decisions the court makes – from the thousands of minority businesses in the state to employees of companies headquartered or operating in Delaware. This appointment comes at a pivotal time in the fight for diversity in this state and this nation, and we will continue our unrelenting effort to give a voice to the citizens of Delaware on this issue.”
Chancery Court is one of the nation’s top courts for handling business disputes and handles civil matters such as guardianships.
Citizens were formed during a dispute over the 50-50 ownership of New York-based translation company TransPerfect that made its way into Chancery Court.
While 50 percent owner Philip Shawe prevailed in the case, he has remained a harsh critic of the court.
More recently, Citizens has focused on Delaware’s Black community while leveling criticism over criminal justice, prison conditions, and the court system’s racial makeup.
Last year, the group formed a Political Action Committee that ran advertisements critical of Carney while running for a second term. Carney won a final term by a wide margin.
