Vote-by-mail ruled unconstitutional by Delaware Supreme Court

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

Charles Megginson Government, 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 Megginson Government, 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 Megginson Government, 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 Megginson Government, 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 Megginson Government, 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 Megginson Government, 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 Megginson Government, 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 Megginson Government, 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 …

Superior Court Judge William Carpenter Jr.

Longest-serving Superior Court judge to retire

Charles Megginson Government, Headlines

Delaware’s longest-serving Superior Court judge will retire after 30 years on the bench, court administrators announced Wednesday. Judge William Carpenter Jr. will step down Dec. 31, 2022, he said in a letter to Gov. John Carney in October. “While it is always difficult to walk away from a job that you have found so rewarding, my time has come,” Carpenter …

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Ground broken on new Kent County Family Court

Charles Megginson Headlines, Government

Just three months after the groundbreaking of Sussex County’s new Family Court building, officials gathered in Dover Thursday to kick off construction of Kent County’s Family Court. The $117.7 million, three-story, 106,711 square-foot building, located at the corner of South Governors Avenue and Water Street, will be more than three times larger than the existing courthouse — expansion officials say …