Bill > HB232

This bill introduces a comprehensive randomized case assignment system for the Delaware Court of Chancery, aimed at ensuring judicial impartiality and preventing undue influence in case assignments. The legislation mandates that all civil actions and petitions filed in the Court of Chancery will be assigned to a Vice Chancellor or the Chancellor through a randomized system administered by the Chancellor, which strictly prohibits any party, attorney, or judge from influencing case assignments. The bill allows for limited exceptions to random assignment, such as judicial recusal, consolidation of related cases, and workload management, but emphasizes that these reassignments cannot be based on the identity of parties or attorneys. To promote transparency, the Court of Chancery must develop public rules for the randomization process and publish an annual statistical report detailing case assignments and reassignments. The bill explicitly states that no party has the right to demand a specific judge and warns that attempts to manipulate the assignment system could result in sanctions, including potential case dismissal or disciplinary action. The Court of Chancery is required to implement these provisions within 90 days of enactment, with the Chancellor responsible for developing necessary administrative rules, and the act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Justice

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142652