Page 5 - Delaware Lawyer - Issue 1 - 2024

EDITORS' NOTE
In this issue of Delaware Lawyer, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, and Delaware’s role in that landmark deci- sion. While Delaware is known across the nation and world as the center of cor- porate law, one of the state’s most impor- tant achievements — that many do not know — is Delaware’s crucial role in end- ing segregation and advancing the goals of the civil rights movement. Our esteemed authors offer thoughtful insight and re- flections on the Delaware cases Belton v. Gebhart and Bulah v. Gebhart, which were consolidated and became part of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown.
In our first article, Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr. celebrates the cou- rageous Delawareans who laid the groundwork for segregation’s end, particularly prominent civil rights ad- vocate Louis L. Redding and the Chief
Justice’s own father, the late Chancellor and U.S. Circuit Judge Collins J. Seitz. Next, Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. Mc-
Cormick reflects on the judicial integrity and legal skill that was required to rule against the State on the question of wheth- er certain educational facilities in Delaware for white children were equal for students of color, during a time when desegregation was unpopular.
In the third article, Dr. David Wilk shares the story of Hockessin Colored School #107c, the Delaware school at the center of Bulah v. Gebhart. Dr. Wilk de- tails the harrowing journey of the efforts that went into saving the school over the past12years.Ithasnowbeenrevitalized and transformed into a Center for Diver- sity,Inclusion,andSocialEquity.
Finally, we bid farewell to Chuck Du- rante, as this issue concludes his tenure as Chair of Delaware Lawyer, and more
than 20 years as a member of the Board of Editors. We thank Chuck for his countless contributions to Delaware Lawyer and wish him well in his next chapters.
Delaware has come a long way from the era that led to the Belton and Bulah deci- sions, but only by remembering the mis- takes of our past can we ensure they are not repeated in the future. We hope that you join us in celebrating Delaware’s role as a leader in the fight for change and justice.
We also extend a sincere thank you to Judge Thomas Ambro and Megan S. Greenberg, Esq., Executive Director of the Delaware Bar Foundation, for their help in producing this issue.
Carla M. Jones
James Levine
Carla M. Jones and James Levine
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ISSUE 1 2024 DELAWARE LAWYER 3