Photo of LeGrow, Griffiths
Governor John Carney will nominate Abigail LeGrow and N. Christopher Griffiths as Supreme Court Justices.
If confirmed, the two nominees will take the seat formerly held by Justice Tamika R. Montgomery-Reeves and the seat to be open upon the retirement of Justice James T. Vaughn, Jr. Reeves, the first Black Supreme Court Justice, has taken a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals.
The nomination of Griffiths, who is a newcomer to the state court system, comes after criticism for Carney not nominating a person of color to Chancery Court, the state’s corporate court. A report from the state’ judiciary conceded that a pipeline of people of color to fill judicial vacancies is limited, with barriers that include high pay for top corporate attorneys.
Both nominees come with a background in corporate law, an advantage since Chancery and Superior Court business rulings are appealed to the Supreme Court.
“I believe both Judge LeGrow and Mr. Griffiths have the experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service necessary to serve on the Supreme Court,” said Carney. “Judge LeGrow brings experience from various Delaware courts, and Mr. Griffiths brings extensive litigation expertise. I want to thank these two qualified nominees for their willingness to serve the people of the State of Delaware, and I look forward to the Senate considering their nominations.”
“Today, we celebrate the appointment of Chris Griffiths, a prominent Black attorney, to the highest court in Delaware. Tomorrow, we get right back to work to elevate many more like Chris Griffiths to important judgeships across Delaware’s courts,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has advocated for more people of color serving as judges. “The fight for diversity and inclusion is more than a righteous struggle to ensure more Black leaders have positions of power after centuries of exclusion — it’s a fundamentally American ideal that the institutions that shape the laws and policies that govern us must include voices from all of our communities. This is how we make real the promise of the Constitution’s loftiest principles, and this is the fight we must continue into the future — even as we take inspiration now from Chris Griffiths’ well-deserved nomination.”
LeGrow serves as a Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Delaware. She was appointed by Gov. Jack Markell and began serving in February 2016. Before joining the Superior Court, LeGrow was appointed as a Master in Chancery on the Delaware Court of Chancery by then-Chancellor Leo E. Strine, Jr. LeGrow received her J.D. from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law and her B.A. in Political Science from Susquehanna University
Griffiths is a partner at Connolly Gallagher LLP focusing on administrative and government law; corporate and commercial litigation; bankruptcy law; and general litigation. Before entering private practice, Griffiths served as a wealth manager for the Wilmington Trust Company and the Vanguard Group. He received his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware and Salesianum High School.
The Governor will submit the nominations to the Delaware State Senate for consideration.
Veteran bankruptcy attorney joins Whiteford
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston announced that leading bankruptcy attorney David B. Stratton joined the firm’s Wilmington office as Senior Counsel.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome David to the firm,” said Managing Partner Martin Fletcher. “He brings to Whiteford more than 45 years of experience as a leading bankruptcy advisor, is a well-respected member of the Delaware bar and further enhances our services to our expanding Delaware client base.”
Stratton represents debtors, creditors’ committees, secured and individual creditors, and parties-in-interest as both lead and co-counsel in bankruptcy courts in the Districts of Delaware and Maryland, the Southern District of New York, and other U.S. bankruptcy courts. He has significant experience representing clients in bankruptcy litigation.
He has also practiced law in Delaware for his entire career and has played important roles in many of the ases in the Delaware bankruptcy court. He is a member of the Board of Directors of ChristianaCare Health Systems and Chairs the Board of ChristianaCare Health Services.
With over 190 attorneys, Whiteford has more than 190 attorneys. Its Mid-Atlantic footprint includes 17 offices in Delaware, D.C., Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Ballard Spahr partner Daluze named to College of Bankruptcy
Daluz named to College of Bankruptcy
Delaware-based Ballard Spahr Partner Tobey M. Daluz has been inducted into the American College of Bankruptcy as a Fellow.
Daluz, co-leader of Ballard Spahr’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group, was inducted March 24. Membership in the College is by invitation and recognizes “exceptional bankruptcy professionals for their work, their contributions to the administration of justice, their public service, and their integrity.”
She represents debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, insurers, indenture trustees, official committees in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, and buyers of assets in the context of sales under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. Daluz also has experience in Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcies. She is the founding partner and former Office Managing Partner of the firm’s office in Wilmington.
