Justice Valihura Will Not Seek Reappointment to DE Supreme Court
Image courtesy DE Office of the Courts
Delaware Supreme Court Justice Karen Valihura will step down when her 12-year term expires in July. She has informed Governor Matt Meyer that she does not intend to seek reappointment to the Court. Valihura was appointed by Governor Jack Markell in 2014 and was the second woman to serve on the Delaware Supreme Court â she is currently the longest-serving member and will serve until the end of her term on July 25th. While she will retire from the Court, she intends to continue her legal career to continue to serve the public.
Additional information from the Delaware Courts:Â
âAfter a great deal of thought, I have decided that I will not apply for a second term,â wrote Justice Valihura. âFor me, being a Justice on our Stateâs Supreme Court has been the highest honor and privilege. And I have the great satisfaction of knowing that I have given âmy allâ to the call of justice and to the goal of completing my full twelve-year term.â
During several days in November 2019, between the retirement of Chief Justice Leo E. Strine, Jr. and Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr. taking office, as the senior justice on the court, she served as interim Chief Justice, becoming the first woman ever to hold that position.
Prior to her appointment, Justice Valihura was a corporate litigator at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, for 25 years, first as an associate then as a litigation partner.
During her tenure, Justice Valihura wrote opinions on behalf of the court on a wide variety of topics and served in several roles for the Supreme Court including co-chair of the Access to Justice Commission and co-chair of the Supreme Courtâs Law and Technology Commission.
Justice Valihura received her undergraduate degree from Washington and Jefferson College in 1985, and her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She served as a law clerk to Judge Robert E. Cowen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.