Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Urges Governor Carney to Match President Biden’s Commitment to Diversity on Courts

With the Retirement of U.S. Court of Appeals Judge David Tatel, Biden’s Intention to Diversify Courts should be reflected in Home State of Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, following President Biden’s affirmation of his campaign promise to appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD) renewed its calls for Governor Carney to follow the President’s lead and replace outgoing Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchard with a Black justice. As reported yesterday in USA Today, several high-profile federal judges have announced they will step down from active service in recent weeks, affording President Biden the opportunity to make good on his campaign promise to name a Black woman to the Supreme Court.

In Biden’s home state of Delaware, Governor John Carney has a similar opportunity to shape the courts in favor of diversity and equity with the early retirement of Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchard. As it stands, Black Delawareans make up only 15% of the judiciary but 60% of the state’s prison population.

CPBD has been joined by prominent community leaders like Pastor Blaine Hackett, the Senior Pastor of the Historic St. John’s African Methodist Church in Newark, Delaware, in calling upon Governor Carney to fill the vacancy of Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchard with a Black justice. CPBD is specifically challenging Chancellor Bouchard to stand up for diversity and equitable representation by speaking out in support of nominating a Black justice as his replacement when he retires later this spring to leave a lasting legacy on Delaware’s courts.

Said Chris Coffey, Campaign Manager for Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware, “It is critical that white men in powerful positions, like Chancellor Bouchard, Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr., former Chief Justice Leo Strine and others step into the ring and use their privilege for power to change the status quo. We have a long way to go to institute diversity on Delaware’s courts and we won’t be able to realize change until those currently in power begin to speak up for communities that are underrepresented, and use their platforms to shed light on the racial imbalance across the courts.”

Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware is a group made up of more than 5,000 members including employees of the global translation services company TransPerfect, as well as concerned Delaware residents, business executives and others. They formed in April of 2016 to focus on raising awareness with Delaware residents, elected officials, and other stakeholders about the unprecedented forced sale of TransPerfect. While their primary goal of saving the company has been accomplished, they continue their efforts to fight for more transparency in the Delaware Chancery Court. For more information on Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware or to join the cause, visit DelawareForBusiness.org.