Twitter Inc v. Musk Update: DE Judicial Watchdog Group Makes Rev. Al Sharpton Available to Media as Chancery Court Expert
WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today – as the Delaware Chancery Court is set to begin hearing arguments in the case of Twitter v. Musk, Delaware-based judicial watchdog group Citizens for Judicial Fairness is announcing that its main advocacy partner, legendary civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton, will be available for comment to the media regarding the court’s beleaguered status.
To reach Rev. Sharpton for comment as an expert on the Delaware Chancery Court, please contact Chris Coffey, Executive Director of Citizens for Judicial Fairness at ccoffey@tuskholdings.com.
Over the past several years, Rev. Sharpton has worked with Citizens for Judicial Fairness to highlight the court’s lacking diversity, and its archaic and opaque practices. Notable criticisms include:
A Court Sorely Lacking Diversity. The Chancery Court of Delaware has only had one black judge (Tamika R. Montgomery-Reeves) in its 230 year history with Delaware’s entire judicial system plagued by a lack of diversity. People of color, who represent nearly 40% of Delaware's population, make up just 15% of the judges who sit on the state's top courts, but comprise 62% of the state's incarcerated population. Because of a secretive, rigged process, Delaware's judicial nominations continue to promote the interests of an elite few at the expense of Delaware's diverse population & companies.
Handpicked judges for cases. Unlike most other courts across our country and the federal government, the Chancery Court does not use randomized wheel spin for case assignments. Currently, Chancery Court Chancellors are free to select cases based on their own self-interest. This leads to corrupt practices much like former Chancer Bouchard’s decision to appoint former employer Skadden Arps as custodian for a high-profile case that charged millions in unfair fees. To make matters worse, there are no cameras in the courts for public records or accountability.
Decisions Based on Connections, not Facts. The Delaware Judges’ Code of Judicial Conduct, notably, does not prohibit any activity upon the judges’ resignation, such as taking a job at a corporate law firm that the former judge dealt with while on the bench. The result?
Leo Strine Jr.: Skadden Arps --> Supreme Court Chief Justice --> of counsel at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Strine, who was recently hired by Twitter Inc., was once rebuked by the Delaware Supreme Court for insensitive comments, a stunning and rare formal criticism that reinforced Strine’s long history of opining wildly from the bench rather than focusing on the case at hand and using his authority to protect diverse employees.
Stephen Lamb: Skadden Arps --> Chancery Court Chancellor --> of counsel at Paul, Weiss
Andre Bouchard: Skadden Arps --> Chancery Court Chancellor --> partner at Paul, Weiss