Effective March 9, 2020, the third-floor of the United States Bankruptcy Court will be temporarily closed and relocated until further notice.  The Court’s Intake Office has been relocated to the United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office, located in Suite 400 on the 4th floor.  Any individuals filing for bankruptcy will need to report to the 4th-floor Intake Office.

The Clerk’s Office has been relocated to the 2nd floor.  All deliveries MUST BE X-RAYED ON THE 5TH OR  6TH FLOORS before delivery to the Clerk’s Office on the 2nd floor.  Binders can be picked up from the Clerk’s Office on the 2nd floor on Fridays between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.  Thank you.  

https://www.deb.uscourts.gov/news/

With the retirement of Judge Gregory M. Sleet last week, the Court provides this update on case assignments and Magistrate Judges.

  With little, if any, exceptions, all open cases that were formerly assigned to the GMS docket have now been reassigned to an active District of Delaware District Judge. The same is true for cases that were formerly assigned to the Vacant Judgeship docket (VAC). Cases that were formerly assigned to Visiting Judges that have not been reassigned to a Delaware District Judge will remain assigned to a Visiting Judge (subject to any order that may be entered by the Visiting Judge).

 Newly-filed cases (civil, criminal, and miscellaneous matters) are being assigned in essentially equal numbers to all four District Judge dockets: LPS, RGA, CFC, and MN.

  The Court has also modified its plan for utilization of Magistrate Judges. Beginning today, with respect to newly-filed cases, Chief Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge will work with all four District Judges, Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke is paired with Judges Stark and Noreika, and Magistrate Judge Sherry Fallon is paired with Judges Andrews and Connolly. Each District Judge will determine how he or she wishes to utilize the Magistrate Judges.

  The Court may modify its case assignment plan and Magistrate Judge utilization plan at any time.

October 1st Announcement

http://www.ded.uscourts.gov/news/update-case-assignments-and-magistrate-judges

Please join me in congratulating our very own Claudine Smith (Pro Bono Director) on being the 2018 recipient of the Christopher W. White Access to Justice Award.  We should all feel proud that once again DPA’s dedication and  commitment to pro bono work has opened doors for another paralegal.  Claudine will be recognized at an award ceremony  and breakfast on Thursday, October 24, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. at the Chase Center. Congratulations to you Claudine!!!!

The Board of Directors would like to welcome Michelle Dero as our new Job Bank Director and Olufunmi Durojaiye as our new Programs Director!

Thank you to those that attended the Special Meeting to vote for the Bylaw Amendments, and to those that send in their proxy ballots.  We are pleased to announce that all of the proposed amendments passed.  You can find a copy of the updated bylaws in the Forms section of the website.

The Board of Directors would like to call a Special Meeting in conjunction with the New Castle County Holiday Luncheon in order to amend the current DPA Bylaws.  A redline of the Proposed Bylaws, as well as an Explanation of Changes, are available in the Forms section of the website.  The Notice of Special Meeting and the Proxy ballot are also in the Forms section.  For full voting members that are not able to attend in person, you must submit your proxy no later than 2:00 p.m. on December 14, 2017. 

Please feel free to contact Heidi Coleman, the DPA Secretary, if you have any questions or concerns prior to the special meeting.

Please join me in congratulating our very own Heidi Coleman (DPA Secretary) for being the 2017 recipient of the Christopher W. White Access to Justice Award.  We should all feel proud that once again DPA’s dedication and  commitment to pro bono work has opened doors for another paralegal.  Heidi will be recognized at an award ceremony and breakfast on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. at the Chase Center.  Congratulations Heidi!