Delaware governor nominates two cabinet members to the bench

As Delaware Governor Jack Markell prepares to start his second term in office, he wants two members of his cabinet to move from the executive branch to the judiciary.

Last year, the General Assembly approved a measure expanding Superior Court in New Castle County by two judges.  Today, Gov. Markell named one of his cabinet members to fill one of the new openings, and named another cabinet member to fill a vacancy on the Court of Common Pleas.

Markell nominated Vivian Rapposelli, Secretary for the Department of Services for Children, Youth & Their Families, to Superior Court.  “Whether serving as an attorney in private practice, or as head of the [Children’s Department], Vivian has proven that she is an individual who is committed to justice and the rule of law,” Markell said in a statement. 

For the second Superior Court opening, Markell nominated Paul Wallace, the state Department of Justice’s chief of appeals since 2008.  “Over the past two decades, Paul Wallace has litigated some of our state’s toughest cases,” Markell said.  “He has proven himself to be an attorney of uncommon skill, intelligence and judgment.”

Markell has nominated the Commissioner of the Department of Correction, Carl Danberg, to the Court of Common Pleas.  Danberg started serving in his role at the DOC under Gov. Ruth Ann Minner in 2007.  Before that, he served as Delaware’s Attorney General from 2005.  

All three nominees must be confirmed by the state Senate.