Civil Rights Activist Al Sharpton Rallies in Delaware to Praise Appointment of the State's First Black Justice to the Supreme Court and Call for Continued Progress in Court Diversity

Today, civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton held a press conference at Ezion-Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, joined by local elected officials, as well as faith leaders from across the state to praise Governor Carney for his appointment of Court of Chancery Vice Chancellor Tamika Montgomery-Reeves to the Delaware Supreme Court, the first person of color ever named to the State's highest court. The desire for increased diversity on Delaware's courts has been driven in recent months as the grassroots advocacy group, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware, launched a campaign and platform to reform the state's beleaguered judiciary.

While Delaware ranks as the 17th most diverse state in the country, it is one of 18 states that has never had an African American justice on their high court and is one of 13 since 1960 that has never had a non-white Supreme Court justice.