James T. Vaughn, Jr.

Professional career

• James T. Vaughn, Jr. (1949 – 2024) was an American lawyer and judge who held the role of an Associate Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court from 2014 to 2023, and earlier as President Judge of the Kent County Superior Court
• 2014–2023: Associate Justice, Delaware Supreme Court, appointed by Governor Jack Markell to fill the vacancy left by Justice Carolyn Berger
• Judicial roles: Resident Judge (1998–2004), President Judge (2004–2014), Associate Justice (2014–2023)
• 2004–2014: President Judge, Kent County Superior Court
• 1998–2004: Resident Judge, Kent County Superior Court

Education

Additional information

• Unanimously confirmed by the Delaware Senate in October 2014 and retired May 1, 2023
• He also served on the Clayton Town Council (1979–1989) and the Smyrna School Board (1989–1994)
• Vaughn practiced law in civil and criminal matters from 1976 to 1988 at Vaughn & Vaughn, then joined Schmittinger and Rodriguez in 1988.
• He graduated from J.B. Moore High School in Smyrna in 1967, obtained a B.A. from Duke University in 1971, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1976.
• Born August 5, 1949 in Dover, Delaware, Vaughn was the son of Delaware State Senator James T. Vaughn Sr..
• He was a U.S. Army veteran
• The Delaware Judiciary honored his more than 25 years of service on the bench