Delaware's two-day high school mock trial competition concluded Saturday

Wilmington Charter wins 2023 state mock trial competition

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

After five rounds of competition, the Charter School of Wilmington’s team bested 17 teams to win the 2023 Delaware High School Mock Trial Competition final Saturday.  Teams from public, private, parochial and charter schools throughout Delaware took part in the two-day event at Wilmington’s Leonard L. Williams Justice Center. The participants included 217 students, 52 coaches, and 118 Delaware bench …

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 …

Kathy McGuiness appeal

No jail time for ‘deeply remorseful’ McGuiness

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware state Auditor Kathy McGuiness will not see the inside of a jail cell after being sentenced on two misdemeanor public corruption charges Wednesday. Prosecutors asked the judge to impose a 30-day prison sentence. Instead, she’ll face one year of probation, a $10,000 fine, and 500 hours of community service. McGuiness plans to appeal her convictions to the Delaware Supreme …

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 …

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 …

McGuiness Leg Hall 4

Judge issues gag order over McGuiness case

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Prosecution and defense attorneys will no longer be able to comment publicly on the McGuiness case. Those involved in State Auditor Kathy McGuiness’s criminal proceedings will no longer be able to comment publicly on the case after Superior Court Judge William Carpenter issued a gag order on Nov. 4.  The order prevents both defense and prosecution from making extrajudicial statements …