State Senate to consider nominations for Family Court and Commissioner positions

Dover, DE – Governor Markell today announced the nominations of five individuals to serve as members of the Delaware judiciary, including the Honorable Janell Ostroski (for Judge of the Family Court, New Castle County), the Honorable Louann Vari (for Judge of the Family Court, Kent County), the Honorable Mary Much (for reappointment as Commissioner of the Family Court, New Castle County), Katharine Mayer (for Commissioner of the Superior Court, New Castle County), and Donald Bucklin (for Commissioner of the Court of Common Pleas for Kent and Sussex Counties).

“I’m privileged to nominate five experienced and exceptionally qualified individuals with a passion for serving our state,” said Governor Markell. “The judges and commissioners of the Family Court, Superior Court, and Court of Common Pleas address many of the most challenging issues that face our courts. They play an important role in ensuring that the law is fairly applied and that justice is served every day. If confirmed by the Senate, I am confident that each of these individuals will serve with distinction and contribute to the sterling reputation of the Delaware courts.”

Current Family Court Commissioner Janell Ostroski is being nominated to the Family Court Judge position in New Castle County that was made vacant by the retirement of the Honorable Jay H. Conner. Commissioner Ostroski has served as a Family Court Commissioner since October 2009, and prior to that time worked in private practice and in various roles for the Family Court, Superior Court, and Delaware Department of Education. Ostroski is a 1986 graduate of St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington, Delaware, and later graduated from the University of Delaware (magna cum laude, 1990) and Widener University School of Law.

The Honorable Louann Vari is also a current Family Court Commissioner, a role she has served in since 2007. Commissioner Vari is being nominated for the Family Court Judge position in Kent County that was made vacant by the retirement of the Honorable William Nicholas. Prior to her role as Commissioner, Vari worked for eight years as a Deputy Attorney General in the Delaware Department of Justice and for two years with the Delaware Department of Education. Commissioner Vari is a 1980 graduate of Lake Forest High School in Felton, Delaware, and graduated from the University of Delaware Honors Program in 1988 and Widener University School of Law in 1991.

The Honorable Mary S. Much, who is nominated for reappointment, has served as a Family Court Commissioner in New Castle County since May 2006. Prior to her confirmation by the Senate, Commissioner Much served for seven years in the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware and three years as a Deputy Attorney General. Commissioner Much is a 1977 graduate of Wilmington Friends School, and holds degrees from Villanova University and the Widener University School of Law. Commissioner Much is being nominated for reappointment to her current position.

Katharine Mayer graduated from the University of Delaware in 1995 and Widener University School of Law in 1998, and is nominated to become a Commissioner of Superior Court (New Castle County), in the position left vacant by the retirement of the Honorable Mark S. Vavala. She is currently a partner in the Wilmington office of McCarter & English, LLP, where her practice is focused on commercial debtor/creditor litigation and product liability defense litigation. In her time as a member of the Delaware bar, Mayer has practiced in all of the state and federal courts in Delaware, with a particular emphasis in Superior Court, Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, and the Court of Chancery.

Donald Bucklin has served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Delaware Department of Justice for the last seventeen years. Since 2009, his practice has been concentrated in the Court of Common Pleas. Bucklin graduated from the University of Virginia in 1990 and Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law in 1995. He is being nominated to become a Commissioner of the Court of Common Pleas (Kent and Sussex Counties), in the position left vacant by the resignation of the Honorable Abby Adams.

The Senate is expected to consider these nominations in a hearing later this month.

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