death

Death penalty bills would codify Supreme Court’s 2016 ban

Katie KazimirGovernment, Headlines

Two bills moving through the General Assembly officially will ban the death penalty in Delaware. Both are sponsored by Sen. Sean Lynn, D-Dover. The state Supreme Court in 2016 ruled that Delaware’s death penalty was unconstitutional and effectively banned it but state laws are still on the books. House Bill 70 would eliminate the death penalty. Instead, it would establish …

Vote-by-mail ruled unconstitutional by Delaware Supreme Court

2022 Rewind: Supreme Court strikes down vote-by-mail

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This story was originally published in October 2022. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Delaware has ruled the state’s mail-in voting and same-day voter registration statutes unconstitutional. Neither will be allowed in the Nov. 8 general election. The ruling, which came just one day after oral arguments, is a major defeat for Gov. John Carney and Delaware Democrats. …

Supreme Court of Delaware

DE Supreme Court explains decision to overturn vote-by-mail

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

In a 69-page decision that cited versions of Delaware constitutions dating back to 1776, the state’s Supreme Court this week explained its ruling overturning mail-in voting and same-day voter registration laws passed by the General Assembly earlier this year.  The state’s highest court in October unanimously ruled the statutes unconstitutional but issued an abbreviated order due to time constraints imposed …

Delaware Supreme Court Justice James T. Vaughn

Longtime Delaware Supreme Court justice to retire

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware’s second longest-serving Supreme Court justice will retire in May 2023. Justice James T. Vaughn, Jr., 73, announced his decision Tuesday. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve since 1998 as a Superior Court judge and Supreme Court Justice,” Vaughn said in a letter to Gov. John Carney. “I will always appreciate the memories of working with …

Vote-by-mail ruled unconstitutional by Delaware Supreme Court

Supreme Court strikes down vote-by-mail, same-day registration

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Delaware has ruled the state’s mail-in voting and same-day voter registration statutes unconstitutional. Neither will be allowed in the Nov. 8 general election. The ruling, which came just one day after oral arguments, is a major defeat for Gov. John Carney and Delaware Democrats. In an abbreviated order, the court said the …

Supreme Court of Delaware

Supreme Court hears voting cases; opinion to come later

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The fate of Delaware’s mail-in voting and same-day registration statutes — and Delawareans’ ability to do both in the Nov. 8 general election — rests in the hands of the Delaware Supreme Court. The court heard oral arguments on the matter Thursday in Dover.  Depending on its decision, the vote-by-mail statute passed by the General Assembly in July and deemed …

Delaware early voting and primary

Delaware Supreme Court to hear vote-by-mail appeal Thursday

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware Supreme Court on Thursday will consider whether the state’s new mail-in voting law violates the Delaware Constitution. The Department of Elections appealed an earlier ruling from the Delaware Court of Chancery deeming the law unconstitutional. RELATED: Delaware judge halts mail-in voting “My injunction in this matter was compelled by an advisory decision from five decades ago that, in …

Mail-in voting

Mail-in voting ruling on hold pending Supreme Court appeal

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware Department of Elections will be allowed to continue processing mail-in voting applications and preparing ballots while it appeals last week’s Chancery Court decision rendering the new law unconstitutional. The department will not be allowed to mail ballots to voters. In a letter opinion Monday, Vice Chancellor Nathan Cook granted the Department of Elections’ request to stay his ruling …

a man wearing a suit and tie

Randy Holland, retired Delaware Supreme Court Justice, dies at 75

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Retired Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy J. Holland has died. He was 75.  Holland was appointed and reappointed to the Delaware Supreme Court by three different governors and served with four different chief justices during his tenure on the bench.  At his appointment to the state’s Supreme Court in 1986 by Gov. Mike Castle, Holland became the youngest person ever …

Early and absentee voting was the focus of a recent Superior Court ruling that received a lot of response from state politicians. (Photo from Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Politicians react to court striking absentee, early voting laws 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

A ruling by the Delaware Superior Court that restricts early and absentee voting – a highly contentious aspect of the 2020 Presidential Election – has state leaders reacting on party lines.  Judge Mark Conner ruled Friday in favor of former state attorney general Jane Brady’s suit that laws passed by the General Assembly – over objections that they were not …