The Chancery is America's most important business court -- but has no justice of color, and only one in its nearly 200-year history. People of color represent nearly 40% of Delaware's population -- but make up just 15% of the judges on the state's top courts, yet comprise 62% of the state's incarcerated population.

(Black PR Wire) WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Citizens for Judicial Fairness released the following statement today from national civil rights icon Reverend Al Sharpton and noted Delaware police reform and racial justice activist Keandra McDole, demanding that the new Delaware Court of Chancery vacancy created by the retirement of Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock be filled with a justice of color:

"The Delaware Court of Chancery is the nation's premiere business court, and its rulings affect thousands of companies, millions of workers and billions of dollars across America every year. Given this enormous reach and influence, it is unconscionable that in 2024 not one person of color sits on this extraordinarily important bench. The exclusion of Black and brown judges is a grave injustice that silences voices and views that deserve to be heard. Now is the moment to right this dangerous wrong. Delaware's leaders -- from Governor Carney to the State Legislature -- must stand up today and promise to add urgently-needed diversity to this court, and reverse the glaring, harmful absence of representation on one of most powerful legal institutions in the country."

The Delaware Court of Chancery is America's most important business court -- but currently counts no justice of color among its judicial officers, and has had only one diverse jurist in its nearly 200-year history. People of color represent nearly 40% of Delaware's population -- but make up just 15% of the judges on the state's top courts, yet comprise 62% of the state's incarcerated population.

Citizens for Judicial Fairness is a grassroots advocacy organization fighting for transparency, equity, and accountability in state judiciaries across America. Founded in 2016 to fight the unprecedented corruption in Delaware Chancery Court rulings, the group has since grown to more than 5,000 members nationwide.

Source: Citizens for Judicial Fairness