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Litigation Overview: Delaware by William M STATE Q&A Litigation Overview: Delaware by William M. Lafferty, John P. DiTomo, and Matthew R. Clark, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, with Practical Law Litigation Status: Law stated as of 25 Mar 2021 | Jurisdiction: Delaware, United States This document is published by Practical Law and can be found at: us.practicallaw.tr.com/w-000-5829 Request a free trial and demonstration at: us.practicallaw.tr.com/about/freetrial A Q&A guide to general litigation information for Delaware. This State Q&A covers the Delaware state court structure, state statutes and rules governing litigation procedure, and the attorney admissions process (including admission without examination, pro hac vice admission, and in-house counsel registration). Answers to questions can be compared across a number of jurisdictions (see Litigation Overview: State Q&A Tool). Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Delaware courts have modified or suspended many court rules and procedures on a statewide or court-by-court basis. For more information, see The Delaware Judiciary Response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). State Courts Jurisdiction The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over: 1. What are your state’s appellate courts? • Final and interlocutory judgments of the Court of For each appellate court, please identify: Chancery. • The courts from which a direct appeal may be taken • Final and interlocutory judgments of the Superior Court to this appellate court. in civil actions. • The appellate court’s general subject matter • Final judgments of the Superior Court in criminal jurisdiction. proceedings, on application of the accused, where: • The court(s), if any, to which a further appeal may be – the sentence is death; sought. – imprisonment exceeds one month; Delaware has one appellate-level court and two other – the fine exceeds $100; or courts that possess appellate jurisdiction in limited – it is otherwise provided by law. circumstances. These are: • Final judgments of the Superior Court in criminal • The Supreme Court of the State of Delaware (see proceedings, on application of the state, where the Supreme Court). Superior Court has granted an accused any of the • The Superior Court of the State of Delaware (see following: Superior Court). – a new trial or judgment of acquittal after a verdict; • The Court of Common Pleas for the State of Delaware – a modification of a verdict; (see Court of Common Pleas). – an arrest of judgment; Supreme Court – relief in any post-conviction proceeding or in any The Supreme Court is Delaware’s highest court and only action collaterally attacking a criminal judgment; true appellate court. © 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Use of Practical Law websites and services is subject to the Terms of Use (static.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/static/agreement/westlaw-additional-terms.pdf) and Privacy Policy (a.next.westlaw.com/Privacy). Litigation Overview: Delaware – a new punishment hearing in a capital case after Superior Court imposition of a death sentence; Although primarily a trial-level court, the Superior Court – an order or judgment that declares an act or portion of has limited intermediate appellate jurisdiction. an act of the General Assembly unconstitutional under the US Constitution or the Delaware Constitution; or Jurisdiction – other cases as provided by law. The Superior Court has jurisdiction over appeals from: (10 Del. C. § 9902(d).) • Final judgments of the Court of Common Pleas in civil • Final and interlocutory judgments of the Family Court in actions (10 Del. C. § 1326). civil actions (10 Del. C. § 1051). • Final judgments of the Court of Common Pleas in • An order of the Family Court relating to child custody criminal proceedings, on application of the accused, (10 Del. C. § 1052). where: • Final judgments of the Family Court in delinquency – imprisonment exceeds one month; or proceedings (10 Del. C. § 1053). – the fine exceeds $100. • Cases of prosecution of election offenses under Section 8, • Final judgments of the Court of Common Pleas in Article V of the Delaware Constitution. criminal proceedings, on application of the state, only (Del. Const. art. IV, § 11.) as provided by law (10 Del. C. §§ 9901 to 9905). The Supreme Court has discretionary jurisdiction over the • Final judgments of the Family Court in criminal proceedings, on application of the accused (10 Del. following: C. § 1051(b)). • To issue writs of prohibition, quo warranto, certiorari, • Final judgments of the Family Court in criminal and mandamus to any inferior courts or to any judges of proceedings, on application of the state, only as these courts. provided by law (10 Del. C. § 1053). • To issue advisory opinions on the request of the Governor of Delaware or the Delaware General (Del. Const. art. IV, §§ 7, 28; 11 Del. C. § 5301.) Assembly (10 Del. C. § 141). The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction to issue writs • To hear and determine questions of law certified to it by of habeas corpus, except in cases: other courts and agencies including: • Within the jurisdiction of the Family Court. – other Delaware courts; • Where jurisdiction is concurrent with the Family Court. – the US Supreme Court; • Involving child support enforcement, where the Family – a US Court of Appeals; Court has exclusive jurisdiction. – a US District Court; (Del. Const. art. IV, § 7; 10 Del. C. § 6901.) – a US Bankruptcy Court; The Superior Court has jurisdiction to issue all remedial writs necessary for bringing an action in the court to trial – the US Securities and Exchange Commission; and and for executing a judgment of the court, including writs – the highest appellate court of any other state. of habeas corpus and certiorari (Del. Const. art. IV, § 7; 10 Del. C. § 562; 21 Del. C. § 703(g)). (Del. Const. art. IV, § 11(5), (7), and (8).) Further Appellate Review Further Appellate Review The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over the The US Supreme Court may review a decision of the Superior Court (Del. Const. art. IV, § 11; 10 Del. C. § 1051(b)). Delaware Supreme Court in certain situations, for example, where: Court of Common Pleas • The validity of a US treaty or statute is challenged. Although primarily a trial-level court, the Court of • A state statute is claimed to violate the US Constitution. Common Pleas has limited intermediate appellate (28 U.S.C. § 1257(a).) jurisdiction. © 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Use of Practical Law websites and services is subject to the Terms of Use 2 Practical Law (static.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/static/agreement/westlaw-additional-terms.pdf) and Privacy Policy (a.next.westlaw.com/Privacy). Litigation Overview: Delaware Jurisdiction • The Superior Court of the State of Delaware (see The Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over appeals Superior Court). from: • The Family Court of the State of Delaware (see Family Court). • Final judgments of the Justice of the Peace Court in civil actions where: • The Court of Common Pleas for the State of Delaware (see Court of Common Pleas). – judgment is given without a referee trial; and • The Justice of the Peace Court for the State of Delaware – the amount exceeds $5, exclusive of costs. (see Justice of the Peace Court). (10 Del. C. § 9570(a).) Although outside the scope of this Q&A, certain • Final judgments of the Justice of Peace Court in municipalities in Delaware have Alderman’s Courts and criminal proceedings, on application of the accused, Mayor’s Courts (see Alderman’s and Mayor’s Courts). where: – imprisonment exceeds one month; or Court of Chancery – the fine exceeds $100. Jurisdiction (11 Del. C. § 5920.) The Court of Chancery has jurisdiction to hear and determine • Final judgments of the Justice of the Peace Court in all matters and causes in equity (10 Del. C. § 341). criminal proceedings, on application of the state, only as provided by law (10 Del. C. §§ 9901 to 9905). Appeals • Final judgments of the Justice of the Peace Court The Supreme Court hears appeals from the Court of in motor vehicle cases where the sentence imposed Chancery (Del. Const. art. IV, § 11). was imprisonment or a fine exceeding $100 (21 Del. C. § 708(b)). Superior Court • Final judgments of an Alderman’s Court or a Mayor’s Court in criminal proceedings for violation of any city or Jurisdiction town ordinance, on application of the accused, where: The Superior Court is Delaware’s court of general – imprisonment exceeds one month; or jurisdiction. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction over all criminal proceedings and civil actions, except – the fine exceeds $100. matters in equity and certain matters relating to children (11 Del. C. § 4503(a).) and domestic relations. (Del. Const. art. IV, § 7; 10 Del. C. §§ 341, 541, 921, and 922; 11 Del. C. § 2701(c).) The • Final judgments of an Alderman’s Court or a Mayor’s Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over felonies and Court in motor vehicle cases (21 Del. C. § 708(a)). most drug offenses (11 Del. C. § 2701(c); 16 Del. C. § 4795). Further Appellate Review Appeals The Superior Court has appellate jurisdiction over the The Supreme Court hears appeals from the Superior Court Court of Common Pleas (Del. Const. art. IV, § 28; 10 Del. (Del. Const. art. IV, § 11). C. § 1326; 11 Del. C. § 5301). Family Court 2. What are the trial courts in your state? For each trial court, please identify: Jurisdiction • The court’s general subject matter jurisdiction. The Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over virtually • The state court(s) to which a direct appeal may be all family and juvenile matters, including: taken. • Child abuse, dependency, and neglect. • Child delinquency. Delaware has five trial courts: • Custody and visitation of children. • The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (see Court of Chancery). • Divorce and annulment. © 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Use of Practical Law websites and services is subject to the Terms of Use 3 Practical Law (static.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/static/agreement/westlaw-additional-terms.pdf) and Privacy Policy (a.next.westlaw.com/Privacy).
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