In December 2017, a U.S. District Court struck down a Delaware law that said only members of the two largest parties in the state could be considered for judicial appointments. Adams v Carney, 1:17cv-181. However, in February this year, Governor John Carney announced that he was about to appoint judges for two particular vacancies, and the Governor’s announcement said he expected to appoint a Republican for one particular spot, and a Democrat for the other spot, as though the federal court decision didn’t exist.

Last month, the plaintiff, James R. Adams, asked the federal court to hold the Governor in contempt. The state has never asked for a stay of the federal court decision. There is no decision yet from the federal court about the motion concerning the governor.