Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005
Governor Minner Nominates M. Jane Brady for Associate Judge of Superior Court and Alan N. Cooper and Joelle P. Hitch as Family Court Associate Judges
Dover – Governor Ruth Ann Minner said today she will nominate M. Jane Brady as Associate Judge of Superior Court and Alan N. Cooper and Joelle P. Hitch as Associate Judges of Family Court.
Brady, 54, has served as Delaware’s Attorney General since 1995. Prior to that, she worked as an attorney in private practice with Clerk, Woloshin & Tenenbaum, a deputy attorney general (from 1977 to 1990) and then spent three years as a sole practitioner prior to being elected Attorney General. She is on the Board of Directors of the National District Attorneys Association, president of the Board of Trustees of the Delaware Law Related Education Center and chair of the Board of Directors of KINFolk. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and a law degree from Villanova University. She is married to Michael Neal.
“I am deeply honored by the Governor’s nomination and look forward to working with the Senators during the confirmation process,” Brady said.
“Attorney General Brady has a thorough knowledge of Delaware’s court system, both from her positions in the Attorney General’s office and as an attorney in private practice,” Gov. Minner said. “The Superior Court bench will benefit from her knowledge and years of experience with Delaware’s courts.”
Cooper, 53, has been an attorney with the firm of Berkowitz, Schagrin & Cooper in Wilmington for the past 20 years. Prior to that he worked as a paralegal in the firm of Bayard, Brill & Handelman while in law school. He is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association, Family Law Section, the American Bar Association, the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Delaware State Bar Association Standing Committee on the Provision of Legal Services to Low Income People and the Melson-Arsht Inn of Court. He is also past chair of the Family Law Section of the Delaware Bar Association. He received a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University, a master’s degree from Indiana University and a law degree from the Widener University School of Law. He is married and has two children.
“I just look forward to being able to serve the people of the state and help make Family Court the great institution that it is,” Cooper said.
“Mr. Cooper has two decades of experience in private practice and came highly recommended for the position of Family Court Associate Judge,” Gov. Minner said. “His vast experience with family law makes him an excellent candidate for this position.”
Hitch, 39, currently serves as a Family Court Commissioner in New Castle County, a position she has held since 2001. Prior to that, she was a deputy attorney general in Delaware for eight years. She is a member of the Melson-Arsht Inn of Court, the Delaware State Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the Abuse Intervention Committee and the Ferris Ad-Hoc Arts Committee. She is a prior member of the Rodney Inn of Court and the National Association of Counsel for Children. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and her law degree from the Widener University School of Law. She is married with three children.
“I’m incredibly honored and thankful to the Governor for nominating me and I’m looking forward to serving the court as a judge and continuing to work with the good people in Family court,” Hitch said.
“Ms. Hitch has 13 years experience in Family Court, both as a practitioner and as a Commissioner,” Gov. Minner said. “Her highly regarded services as a Family Court Commissioner will provide a solid background when she becomes a judge.”
Gov. Minner also announced her intention to nominate Alex J. Smalls for reappointment as Chief Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and William C. Carpenter, Jr. and Fred S. Silverman for reappointment as Associate Judges of Superior Court.
