Delaware House and Senate Democrats are sticking with the status quo in the next General Assembly. Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, was re-elected Speaker of the House during a caucus meeting Saturday after serving in that position since 2013. Schwartzkopf faced a challenge from Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark. House Democrats would not release a roll call vote to Delaware LIVE …
Democratic lawmakers filed legislation Thursday they say will improve the availability of abortions and protect patients and providers from facing legal action under other states’ abortion laws. Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-New Castle, Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, and Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Talleyville, announced the legislation in the wake of a leaked draft opinion suggesting the United States Supreme Court may …
A bill set to be considered by the Delaware House of Representatives would make it illegal for police to lie to children during interrogations. House Bill 419, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-Wilmington, would ban the use of deceptive tactics, such as making misleading statements about evidence or offering false promises of leniency to extract a confession or other incriminating …
Sen. Darius Brown, D-Wilmington State Sen. Darius Brown has been reinstated as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and member of the Senate Capital Improvement Committee. Brown, D-Wilmington, was removed from the Judiciary Committee in May 2021 after being arrested on misdemeanor offensive touching and disorderly conduct charges. He was removed from the Capital Improvement Committee in Nov. 2021 after …
SUSSEX CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION/GOOGLE MAPS STREET VIEW A two-day virtual summit on Delaware’s correctional system ended with Sen. Marie Pinkney apologizing to current and former inmates for perceived failures in the state’s criminal justice system. “To those who have been involved in our justice system or to those that love people that have been involved in our justice system, we apologize …
A two-day virtual summit focused on improving Delaware’s correctional system will begin Tuesday morning. The event, organized by Sen. Marie Pinkney, D-New Castle, and Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-New Castle South, will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Tuesday, Feb. 22 and Wednesday, Feb. 23 and is open to the public. The “State of State of Corrections” summit …
Left to right: Sen. Kyle Evans Gay (D-Brandywine Hundred), Sen. Marie Pinkney (D-New Castle) Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown (D-New Castle South), Rep. Valerie Longhurst (D-Delaware City). Facebook/Rep. Valerie Maglio Longhurst A group of female legislators on Wednesday announced the formation of a new caucus to focus on issues affecting women. The Delaware Legislative Women’s Caucus will include lawmakers from both parties …
Sen. Darius Brown, D-Wilmington Black Wilmington pastors and activists are divided over whether a state senator cleared of offensive touching and disorderly conduct charges should still face a Senate Ethics Committee inquiry. Several, including New Castle County Councilman Jea Street, Delaware NAACP president Richard “Mouse” Smith and the Rev. Dr. Christopher T. Curry, pastor of Ezion Fair Baptist Church, say …
State Sen. Darius Brown, D-Edgemoor State Sen. Darius Brown has been booted from yet another Senate committee following a heated altercation with a state representative. The Wilmington Democrat is alleged to have verbally abused Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-New Castle, during a Nov. 8 press event where lawmakers gathered to witness Gov. John Carney’s signing of multiple criminal justice-related bills. “He …
A raft of criminal justice bills were signed into law this week. Photo by Pexels. Eight pieces of legislation aimed at reforming Delaware’s criminal justice system were signed into law this week. The bills will expand mandatory reviews of police use-of-force incidents, mandate the recording of interrogations, prohibit the publication of children’s mugshots, end the prosecution of children under 12 …
