SPONSOR:

Rep. Dorsey Walker & Sen. Gay

Reps. Griffith, K. Johnson, Spiegelman, Yearick; Sens. Hansen, S. McBride, Pettyjohn, Richardson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 106

RECOGNIZING THE 38 YEARS OF SERVICE OF THE FAMILY LAW COMMISSION AND ITS MANY DEDICATED MEMBERS WHO SERVED ON THE COMMISSION.

WHEREAS, Delaware’s modern-day, statewide Family Court was established in 1971, unifying what had been multiple family law-related court systems throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, in 1984, Representative Katharine Jester sponsored House Bill No. 699 of the 132 nd General Assembly, which established the Family Law Commission and its focused purpose: to study and evaluate Delaware’s domestic relations laws and the Family Court’s rules and procedures, review legislation relating to family law and the Family Court, disseminate family law-related information to Delawareans, and engage in other related activities that it deemed appropriate; and

WHEREAS, the Family Law Commission was originally comprised of 9 members, including Mary Moore Williams, the concerned Delawarean who inspired the drafting and passage of H.B. 699 by contacting each member of the General Assembly and asking them to “do something about Family Court” as a result of what was ordered in her son’s divorce; and

WHEREAS, by 2022, membership was comprised of 16 members, including its chair, Curtis Bounds, Esquire, and numerous concerned citizen members, among whom are former longtime chair Lynn M. A. Kokjohn, longtime Commission secretary Raetta L. McCall, present Family Court Judge Peter B. Jones, and former Family Court Judge William J. Walls, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, for many years, the Family Law Commission served a critical role in the progress and improvement of Family Court by providing an effective avenue for public discussions of the Family Court’s rules, procedures, and functionality; and

WHEREAS, for almost 4 decades, Family Law Commission members served diligently and voluntarily, freely giving their time again and again to the State of Delaware and the thousands of lives they impacted over the years; and

WHEREAS, Family Court celebrated its 50 th anniversary in 2021 and the countless changes and improvements that have been made to Family Court’s rules and procedures and to Delaware’s domestic relations laws; and

WHEREAS, the Family Law Commission, with decades of dedication to and advocacy for Delaware families, has successfully fulfilled its mission.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 151st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Family Law Commission and its many dedicated members are recognized for the 38 years of service provided to the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Concurrent Resolution be presented to current Commission members and any past member who desires a copy, together with heartfelt thanks for their service to the citizens of this State.

SYNOPSIS

This House Concurrent Resolution recognizes the 38 years of service of the Family Law Commission and its many dedicated members who served on the Commission.