Delaware Supreme Court Justice Karen L. Valihura announced Monday that she will step away from the state’s highest bench, confirming she will not seek reappointment when her 12-year term concludes in July.
Her decision brings to a close a tenure that has stretched longer than any of her current colleagues on the five-member court, making her its longest-serving justice at the time of her departure.
A Measured Decision After Years of Service
In a letter addressed to Gov. Matt Meyer, Justice Valihura said the choice followed deep reflection.
“After a great deal of thought, I have decided that I will not apply for a second term,” she wrote, describing her service on the court as “the highest honor and privilege.”
Her words echoed like a final gavel strike—firm, deliberate, and signaling transition rather than retreat.
From Big Law to the Bench
Justice Valihura was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP when she was nominated by former Gov. Jack Markell and confirmed to the court in 2014. Her move from private practice to the judiciary marked a pivotal shift, one that would shape Delaware jurisprudence for more than a decade.
