Delaware News

Governor Markell Nominates Judge Jan Jurden for President Judge of Delaware Superior Court

Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | News | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Monday, December 1, 2014



Wilmington, DE – Governor Markell today announced the nomination of Judge Jan R. Jurden, a distinguished jurist and member of the Superior Court since 2001, to serve as President Judge of the Delaware Superior Court. If confirmed by the Delaware Senate during its special session on December 16, 2014, Jurden will fill the vacancy left by Justice James Vaughn Jr., who was sworn in as a member of the state’s Supreme Court on October 29.

“Judge Jurden is an experienced and accomplished jurist who has served with distinction as a member of the Superior Court for more than a decade,” said Governor Markell. “But more than that, Judge Jurden is a lifelong public servant who has served her country and her state with the utmost skill, dedication, and integrity. If she is confirmed, she will make an outstanding President Judge.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Judge Jurden would become the first woman to hold the position of President Judge of the Delaware Superior Court.

Prior to joining the Superior Court, Judge Jurden practiced law at Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor for 13 years. In that capacity, she handled cases in U.S. District Court, the Delaware Supreme Court, the Superior Court, the Court of Chancery, Family Court and the Court of Common Pleas. She was a partner at Young Conaway for five years.

While on the bench, Jurden has overseen the Superior Court’s Mental Health Court since its inception in 2008 and oversaw the Conflict Attorney Program from 2006 through 2008. She has also presided over the Veterans’ Treatment Court in New Castle County.

“I am deeply humbled and thank Governor Markell for having the confidence in me to nominate me to succeed Justice Vaughn as President Judge of the Superior Court,” said Judge Jurden. “I hold my colleagues and our dedicated court staff, with whom I have served the last 13 years, in the highest regard. Should I be fortunate enough to be confirmed by the Delaware State Senate, I look forward to continuing to work hard with them to serve the citizens of our great State.”

Among other accolades, Judge Jurden is the recipient of the Delaware State Bar Association’s Outstanding Service to the Courts and Bar Award, the Caleb R. Layton III Service Award for her “legal acumen, professional decorum and public service,” and the New Lawyers Distinguished Service Award.

Jurden, 53, obtained her law degree from the Dickinson School of Law in 1988 and was admitted to the Delaware Bar the same year. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Muhlenberg College in 1985 after attending Brandywine High School, where she received her diploma in 1979. After graduating high school, Jurden also served in the U.S. Army overseas as Secretary to the Commander of the 3/7 Air Defense Artillery and Secretary to the Commander of the 69th Air Defense Artillery Group. She was honorably discharged in 1982.

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Governor Markell Nominates Judge Jan Jurden for President Judge of Delaware Superior Court

Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | News | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Monday, December 1, 2014



Wilmington, DE – Governor Markell today announced the nomination of Judge Jan R. Jurden, a distinguished jurist and member of the Superior Court since 2001, to serve as President Judge of the Delaware Superior Court. If confirmed by the Delaware Senate during its special session on December 16, 2014, Jurden will fill the vacancy left by Justice James Vaughn Jr., who was sworn in as a member of the state’s Supreme Court on October 29.

“Judge Jurden is an experienced and accomplished jurist who has served with distinction as a member of the Superior Court for more than a decade,” said Governor Markell. “But more than that, Judge Jurden is a lifelong public servant who has served her country and her state with the utmost skill, dedication, and integrity. If she is confirmed, she will make an outstanding President Judge.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Judge Jurden would become the first woman to hold the position of President Judge of the Delaware Superior Court.

Prior to joining the Superior Court, Judge Jurden practiced law at Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor for 13 years. In that capacity, she handled cases in U.S. District Court, the Delaware Supreme Court, the Superior Court, the Court of Chancery, Family Court and the Court of Common Pleas. She was a partner at Young Conaway for five years.

While on the bench, Jurden has overseen the Superior Court’s Mental Health Court since its inception in 2008 and oversaw the Conflict Attorney Program from 2006 through 2008. She has also presided over the Veterans’ Treatment Court in New Castle County.

“I am deeply humbled and thank Governor Markell for having the confidence in me to nominate me to succeed Justice Vaughn as President Judge of the Superior Court,” said Judge Jurden. “I hold my colleagues and our dedicated court staff, with whom I have served the last 13 years, in the highest regard. Should I be fortunate enough to be confirmed by the Delaware State Senate, I look forward to continuing to work hard with them to serve the citizens of our great State.”

Among other accolades, Judge Jurden is the recipient of the Delaware State Bar Association’s Outstanding Service to the Courts and Bar Award, the Caleb R. Layton III Service Award for her “legal acumen, professional decorum and public service,” and the New Lawyers Distinguished Service Award.

Jurden, 53, obtained her law degree from the Dickinson School of Law in 1988 and was admitted to the Delaware Bar the same year. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Muhlenberg College in 1985 after attending Brandywine High School, where she received her diploma in 1979. After graduating high school, Jurden also served in the U.S. Army overseas as Secretary to the Commander of the 3/7 Air Defense Artillery and Secretary to the Commander of the 69th Air Defense Artillery Group. She was honorably discharged in 1982.

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Related Topics:  , , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.