Judicial Officers

There are nine Judges of the Court of Common Pleas statewide. Five Judges are residents of New Castle County, two Judges are residents of Kent County, and two Judges are residents of Sussex County. Each Judge is nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for a term of 12 years. To be nominated for the position, each Judge must have been actively engaged in the general practice of law in the State of Delaware for at least five years and must be a citizen of the State. A majority of not more than one Judge may be from the same political party. The same process is used to appoint the Chief Judge.

The Court has two Commissioners, one assigned to New Castle County, and the second Commissioner for Kent and Sussex Counties. The Commissioners have the power to accept pleas, conduct preliminary hearings, petitions for change of name and other non case-dispositive matters.

Judges:

Left to right front row: Judge Robert H. Surles, Judge Kenneth S. Clark, Jr., Chief Judge Alex J. Smalls (retired May 2021), Judge Anne E. Hartnett, Chief Judge Carl C. Danberg

Left to right back row:Judge Monica Horton, Judge Bradley V. Manning, Judge Kathleen K. Amalfitano, Judge Rae M. Mims