N. Christopher Griffiths | |
---|---|
Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court | |
Assumed office May 22, 2023 | |
Appointed by | John Carney |
Preceded by | Tamika Montgomery-Reeves |
Personal details | |
Education |
University of Delaware (
BS) Villanova University ( JD) |
N. Christopher Griffiths is an American lawyer from Delaware who is serves as a justice of the Delaware Supreme Court.
Griffiths is a graduate of Salesianum School. He received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Delaware in 2002. He received a Juris Doctor from the Villanova University School of Law in 2008. [1] [2]
Prior to practicing law, Griffiths served as a wealth manager for the Wilmington Trust Company and the Vanguard Group. He was a partner with Connolly Gallagher LLP focusing on administrative and government law; corporate and commercial litigation; bankruptcy law; and general litigation. [1] [3]
On April 13, 2023, Governor John Carney nominated Griffiths to serve as a justice of the Delaware Supreme Court, to the seat vacated by Justice Tamika Montgomery-Reeves, who was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. [1]
His nomination came under scrutiny after it was reported that Griffiths pled guilty to reckless driving, alcohol-related in January 2023. [4] [5]
On May 3, 2023, the Delaware Senate confirmed him by a 15–4–2 vote. Republicans opposed him because his nomination left the Supreme Court without a Justice sitting in Kent County. [6] [7] He assumed office on May 22, 2023. [8] Griffiths became the first Black man to serve on the supreme court. [9]
Griffiths has received the Delaware State Bar Association Young Lawyer of Distinguished Service Award, and the Supreme Court has appointed him as a Trustee of its Client Protection Fund. Chris also serves the board of the Delaware Law Related Education Center focusing on trial advocacy. [10]