WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced his intention to nominate Mark Conner as Superior Court Judge in Sussex County, Monica Horton as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in New Castle County, and Rae Mims as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Sussex County.

The Delaware Senate is expected to consider the Governor’s judicial nominations this month.

“Each of the nominees has a unique perspective, as well as the judgment and knowledge necessary to serve Delaware well as members of our world-class judiciary,” said Governor Carney. “I look forward to the Senate considering their nominations.”

Mark Conner, Superior Court, Sussex County:

Since July 2016, Mark Conner has served as the managing attorney for the Office of Conflicts Counsel for Sussex County within the Office of Defense Services. During his time in this position, he represented criminal defendants in the Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas, the Family Court, and the Justice of the Peace Court. Conner has previous experience as a Deputy Attorney General at the Delaware Department of Justice in both the Criminal Division and Civil Division, as well as in the Public Defender’s Office. Between 2007-2016, Conner served as an adjunct professor at Delaware Technical and Community College and Wilmington University, teaching courses on business law and criminal law and procedure.

A graduate of Wilmington Friends School, Conner earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Dickinson College, and his law degree from Widener University School of Law.

Conner would replace Judge Scott Bradley, who retired May 1, 2020, on the Superior Court in Sussex County.

Monica Horton, Court of Common Pleas, New Castle County:

Since 2016, Monica Horton has served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Delaware Department of Justice, where she is the head of the Health Law Unit in the Civil Division and provides general counsel to the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. Horton’s public and private legal experience includes serving as an Assistant County Attorney for New Castle County, as an Associate Attorney for Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, and as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Family Court.

From 2000-2009 and again from 2014-2016, Horton, who is also a registered nurse, attended to obstetrical patients in the labor and delivery department of Christiana Care.

Horton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Delaware. Horton earned her law degree from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.

Horton would replace Judge John Welch, who will retire on June 30, 2020, on the Court of Common Pleas in New Castle County.

Rae Mims, Court of Common Pleas, Sussex:

As a Deputy Attorney General in the Delaware Department of Justice since 2007, Rae Mims has experience on a wide range of matters, and has represented the Delaware Department of Correction, the State Board of Education, the Delaware State Police, and the Division of Public Health. During her time as a Deputy Attorney General, Mims also oversaw criminal adult felony prosecutions in the Superior Court, and prosecuted misdemeanor cases in the Family Court, the Justice of the Peace Court, and the Court of Common Pleas. Additionally, Mims has experience in private practice as an Associate with Binder & Binder in Philadelphia, and was an Assistant District Attorney in Bucks County, PA. Previously, Mims served as an assistant to the City Manager of Longmont, CO, and was an acting regional manager for the Peace Corps in Boston.

Mims earned her Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, a Master of Public Administration in not-for-profit management from Suffolk University, and her law degree from Widener University School of Law.

Mims would replace Judge Rosemary Betts Beauregard, who retired on April 1, 2020, on the Court of Common Pleas in Sussex County.

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WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday nominated Kathleen Amalfitano to serve as a Court of Common Pleas Judge in Kent County.

Amalfitano’s nomination must be confirmed by the Delaware Senate.

“Kathleen’s experience and commitment to legal service in Delaware has given her the background and judgment necessary to serve on the Court of Common Pleas in Kent County,” said Governor Carney. “I am pleased to submit her nomination to the Delaware Senate for confirmation, and look forward to the Senate’s vote.”

Since 1999, Amalfitano has served as Assistant Supervising Attorney in the Office of Defense Services. In addition to overseeing the Kent County Office of Defense Services, Amalfitano represents clients in criminal matters before the Superior Court and Court of Common Pleas. Amalfitano also represents litigants in the Veteran’s Court and Mental Health Court for Superior Court. Previously, she served as a Legal Advisor in the Insurance Commissioner’s Office and as an Assistant County Attorney in the New Castle County Department of Law. Amalfitano also has experience in private practice as an Associate with Brown, Shiels and Chasanov, and she clerked in Family Court.

Amalfitano is an active member of the Delaware Army National Guard, and provides Legal Assistance to all members of the Delaware Air and Army National Guard covering a wide range of matters.   

Amalfitano graduated from Mount Pleasant High School, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware, and earned her law degree from Widener University School of Law.

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[Wilmington, DE, August 16, 2019] — The plaza in front of the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center was the site for the Second Annual Community Resource Center Fair. The event was open to the community and marked the formal opening of the Community Resource Center on the second floor of the courthouse and the launch of Phase One of the Wilmington Community Court.

“One year ago we introduced Wilmington – and Delaware – to our planned Community Court. Today we are following through on that introduction to unveil our new Community Resource Center and announce that Phase One of our Wilmington Community Court program has been put into effect. I’m particularly pleased that the Department of Labor will begin to help us fill out a big hole in our portfolio. For too many years, we have ignored the fact that for many offenders, the primary reason they reoffend is not that they have a drug problem or a mental health problem. The main reason they commit crimes is that they lack a good job. DOL’s participation is the first step in creating an effective and logical sequence of job readiness, training, and placement programming for offenders. The three letter word – J-O-B – has to be front and center as the community court effort gains momentum,” said Chief Justice Leo E. Strine, Jr.

“The Delaware Department of Labor is extremely excited about this innovative partnership with the Delaware Courts. Connecting these low-level defendants with essential life, career, and training services before they develop an extensive criminal record will help them to become the productive and law abiding citizens that we know they can be, while saving taxpayer dollars in the long run. Some people just need a little extra help and we’re prepared to meet those needs head on,” said Secretary of Labor Cerron Cade.

Court of Common Pleas Chief Judge Alex J. Smalls, Secretary Cade, Governor John Carney’s Chief Policy Advisor Romain Alexander and Wilmington City Council President Hanifa Shabazz all briefly spoke on Friday to welcome the crowd to the event.

The Wilmington Community Court will handle low-level offenses with a goal of finding alternatives to fines and prison time in favor of sentences involving community service, employment programs, treatment programs or social services. In this way, the Community Court – which is a cooperative effort between the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court and Justice of the Peace Court – will seek to address the underlying issues that are the driving factors behind defendants’ criminal acts and break the cycle that leads to more serious criminal behavior before it starts. The cooperation between all of the Delaware Courts that handle criminal matters will ensure there is a “no wrong door” for defendants, meaning no matter how a person enters the system, they can be referred to Community Court if appropriate.

The Court of Common Pleas is set to begin making its first referrals to the Community Resource Center in the fall and other courts will join in over the next year. “Today marks the culmination of years of hard work by many people to make a Community Court in Delaware a reality. We are certain that this proactive, innovative court will help strengthen our communities and break the downward cycle of crime that sometimes brings the same faces before us – with the same problems – again and again. And so while this is an important milestone, it is just the start of the much more important – and harder – work to come,” said Chief Judge Smalls.

Ultimately, the Community Court will be located in facilities that are being constructed on the seventh floor of the courthouse. When work on the seventh floor is complete, it will also house Justice of the Peace Court 20, which will be moving from its current location at the Wilmington Police Headquarters building.

While the Community Resource Center was designed to be a place in-house, where a judge could refer defendants in need of treatment or services – as part of the courts’ partnership with the City of Wilmington – it will also be open to the broader community. Patrons do not have to be a defendant or involved in the court system in any way, in order to visit the Resource Center to seek assistance or gain access to its services.

For more information contact:

Kenneth Briscoe
Communications Coordinator
Delaware Department of Labor
Kenneth.Briscoe@Delaware.gov
(302) 761-8002