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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.

What Comes Next

While she is stepping down from the bench, Justice Valihura made clear she is not closing the book on her professional life. In her letter, she said she intends to continue her legal career and public service following her departure from the court.

Academic and Judicial Foundations

Justice Valihura earned her undergraduate degree from Washington and Jefferson College in 1985, before receiving her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Early in her career, she served as a law clerk to Judge Robert E. Cowen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, an experience that helped lay the groundwork for her later judicial role.

As July approaches, Delaware’s legal community prepares for a changing of the guard—one marked by respect, reflection, and the closing of a significant chapter.